During this period Horwich was recognised as the most modern and progressive locomotive works in the country and under Aspinall’s leadership it became a magnet for talented young engineers including future CME’s George Hughes (LYR, LNWR & LMS), Henry Fowler (MR & LMS), Richard Maunsell (SE&CR & SR) and Nigel Gresley (GNR & LNER) – all did at least part of their training and held responsible positions with the LYR before moving on. In later years they became known as Aspinall’s ‘Old Boys’. Hoy was replaced by George Hughes, another internal appointment, whose tenure extended beyond the independent existence of the LYR, into the 1922 merger with the LNWR and the 1923 formation of the LMS, from which he retired in 1926.

Under Hughes, one of the class was subject to early experiments in superheating, the process of increasing the temperature of steam produced in the boiler so the minimum of energy was lost. After months of trials, 20 superheated engines were authorised to be built and the first of the superheated class 27s emerged from Horwich Works in 1909. The superheated 27s had the same boiler pressure as the originals, 180 psi. The first batch had round topped boilers, but in 1912 a second batch of 20 was constructed with Belpaire fireboxes. Major E Druitt, Report of inquiry into the causes of the accident which occurred on the 15th July to an express passenger train which was derailed at Waterloo on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, Railway Department, Board of Trade, 10 August 1903

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Baxter, Bertram (1982). Baxter, David (ed.). British Locomotive Catalogue 1825–1923, Volume 3B: Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway and its constituent companies. Ashbourne, Derbyshire: Moorland Publishing Company. ISBN 0-903485-85-0. Each train consisted of 5 coaches, 2 motor coaches, one at each end, a slightly different motor coach in the middle, and one third and one first class trailer coach. All coaches had driving

Earnshaw, Alan (1993). Trains in Trouble: Vol. 8. Penryn: Atlantic Books. p.10. ISBN 978-0-906899-52-6. Mangnall created United's first successful side with a series of signings, eventually winning promotion in 1906. They finished second overall and reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, beating holders Aston Villa (one of the most successful English teams of that era) 5–1 in the fifth round. Among these signings was Billy Meredith, a legendary winger who is regarded by many as the greatest player of that era.Littleworth, Chris (2002). Signal Boxes on Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Lines - North-East Lancashire. Signalling Record Society. ISBN 978-1-873228-21-0.