Anoraks like me will tell you the photo above Phil Plaine's letter (January 18) is a 4-6-0 and not an Atlantic (it's not leaving Victoria station, either).

An Atlantic has a wheel arrangement of 4-4-2 and the photo above, of 32424 Beachy Head, shows the last Atlantic to run in Britain.

She was withdrawn in April 1958 but kept for a few months as negotiations to preserve her were underway.

These failed and the engine was broken up for scrap in August-September. One nameplate was on display in the Towner Gallery in Eastbourne for many years.

I took the picture in October 1952. We had a fast eight-coach Pullman run behind Beachy Head from London.

Returning in the evening, 80mph was exceeded several times - not bad for an engine built at Brighton Works 41 years earlier.

The occasion was to celebrate 100 years of Brighton Locomotive Works, which we toured. We also had a run on the Kemp Town branch behind a Stroudley A1X 0-6-0.

As Phil remarks, these trips were accompanied by an inspector. Ours was Mr Copp and, of course, he came complete with regulation bowler hat. It was a great day.

A replica Beachy Head is possible. There is a society owning a spare boiler which plans to do the business but money is the problem.

We were shown costings for these 1911-built engines - each cost less than £450.

-Robert Stanyon, Oldfield Crescent, Southwick