1961/04/09. From the Geoff Plumb Collection of original slides. The DMU forming the RCTS "Berks & Wilts Railtour" stands in the platform at Highworth station, end of the branch line from Highworth Junction, just outside Swindon. Sunday 9th April 1961. The boy standing alongside the DMU rubbing his hands together is yours truly, a few days after my 12th Birthday! Photo by E.A.S Cotton?

1963/02/25, 1. BR Western Region "Warship" diesel-hydraulic No. D863 "Warrior" has just worked down from Paddington with "The Bristolian" and has now arrived at Bristol Temple Meads station, where some crew discussion is going on. The headboard has already been removed and the headcode changed to 2B04, presumably for the ECS move to the sidings. Monday 25th February 1963.

1963/02/25, 2. Seen from the passing Bristol to Cardiff DMU, GWR "Hall" class 4-6-0 No. 6907 "Davenham Hall" is running light engine towards Bristol near Stapleton Road on Monday 25th February 1963.

1963/02/25, 3. GWR 2-6-0 No. 6335 looks in pretty run-down condition as it runs through the station at Severn Tunnel Junction, heading towards Newport. Monday 25th February 1963.

1963/02/25, 4. GWR 28xx Class 2-8-0 No. 2859, also looking past its best, is running light engine through Severn Tunnel Junction station, heading towards Newport on Monday 25th February 1963.

1963/02/25, 5. GWR "Castle" Class 4-6-0 No. 5043 "Earl of Mount Edgecumbe" drifts into Severn Tunnel Junction station with the reporting number 061 carried on the smokebox door. This was a Cardiff to Brighton train and it looks as if most of its intending passengers are railwaymen, perhaps returning home "on the cushions". Monday 25th February 1963.

1963/02/25, 6. The down working of the Blue "Bristol Pullman" arrives into Bristol Temple Meads station from Paddington on Monday 25th February 1963.

1963/02/25, 7. GWR 2-8-0 No. 3863 sits in one of the centre roads at Bristol Temple Meads waiting for the signal to proceed with its goods train. Alongside is the blue diesel "Bristol Pullman" train which has just arrived from Paddington. Monday 25th February 1963.

1963/02/25, 8. GWR 2-8-0 No. 3863 sits in one of the centre roads at Bristol Temple Meads waiting for the signal to proceed with its goods train and has now been joined by 0-6-0 No. 2251. Alongside is the blue diesel "Bristol Pullman" train which has just arrived from Paddington. Monday 25th February 1963.

1963/04/20. LNER Gresley A3 4-6-2 No. 4472 "Flying Scotsman" at Paddington with X28, the Ffestiniog Railway Society Special to Porthmadog, which it worked as far as Ruabon. This was its first train after being bought for preservation and restored to LNER livery. Alongside is a "Western" Class diesel hydraulic about to depart with a train for Birmingham. Saturday 20th April 1963.

1963/04/xx, 1. For many years there was a footbridge, open to the public, which led from the towpath of the Grand Union Canal (behind the high retaining wall) across the carriage lines from Old Oak Common depot to Paddington, into the yard itself. Seen from the bottom of the steps of this footbridge is filthy "Manor" Class 4-6-0 No. 7823 "Hook Norton Manor" running light engine, either towards the depot in the background, or coming off shed for its next duty. April 1963.

1963/04/xx, 2. SR Maunsell Class "W" 3 cylinder 2-6-4T No. 31920 is passing Old Oak Common signalbox having come round the curve from North Pole Junction with a cross-London freight, though where this originated from and ended up I do not know! April 1963.

1963/06/23, 01. GWR "Grange" Class 4-6-0 No. 6851 "Hurst Grange" has just come out of Swindon Works after overhaul and repainting and is now raising steam at the adjacent engine shed before returning to its home depot of 84B Oxley. Alongside is rather more work-stained "Modified Hall" No. 6974 "Bryngwyn Hall". Sunday 23rd June 1963.

1963/06/23, 02. Former Royal duties engine, "Castle" Class 4-6-0 No. 4082 "Windsor Castle", is now sadly dumped outside Swindon Works, though its name and numberplates remain in place. Presumably, the engine received some attention and was returned to traffic until February 1965. Sunday 23rd June 1963.

1963/06/23, 03. Newly outshopped at Swindon Works in fully lined Brunswick green livery is "Grange" 4-6-0 No. 6847 "Tidmarsh Grange" on Sunday 23rd June 1963.

1963/06/23, 04. GWR 51xx Class 2-6-2T No. 4156 has just been outshopped at Swindon Works after overhaul and repainting in plain black livery, though it looks like some work is still required in the smokebox. Sunday 23rd June 1963.

1963/06/23, 05. "Modified Hall" No. 7913 "Little Wyrley Hall" sits outside Swindon Works after a general overhaul and before return to traffic. It is carrying its name and numberplates but is not fitted with a shedplate, so is perhaps undergoing transfer from one depot to another. It is one of the engines fitted with a Hawksworth flat-sided tender. Behind it is a 43xx Class 2-6-0, while alongside is a 57xx 0-6-0PT, both unidentified. Sunday 23rd June 1963.

1963/06/23, 06. GWR "Manor" 4-6-0 No. 7822 "Foxcote Manor" has also been through the Works at Swindon for overhaul but has not yet been re-attached to its tender. This engine is one of the lucky ones that survived into preservation. Sunday 23rd June 1963.

1963/06/23, 07. GWR "King" Class 4-6-0 No. 6025 "King Henry III" sits forlornly bereft of name and numberplates outside its birthplace at Swindon Works, now awaiting its fate soon after withdrawal from service. Some of its replacement diesel traction can be seen in the background. Sunday 23rd June 1963.

1963/06/23, 08. It wasn't only the bigger types of engine that were still being overhauled at Swindon Works, here two ex-works 57xx Class 0-6-0PT's stand outside the works ready to return to work, one unidentified, the other No. 3654 in newly applied plain black livery. It is carrying a Neyland, 87H, shedplate. Sunday 23rd June 1963.

1963/06/23, 09. Whilst a few steam engines were still being overhauled at Swindon, many more were being scrapped... In the "Boneyard" or "The Dump" at the far end of the works, two GWR 2-6-0's and a "Hall" await their fate, the nearest to camera being 6369. Fortunately, several examples of these classes made it into preservation. Sunday 23rd June 1963. The telegraph wires in the background ran alongside the old M&SWJR line from Andover to Andoversford, which ran along the western perimeter of the works.

1963/06/23, 10. Inside Swindon's "A Shop", GWR "King" Class 4-6-0 No. 6000 "King George V", shorn of its nameplates, awaits a casual repair prior to its preservation and eventual return to the main line. Sunday 23rd June 1963.

1963/07/21, 1. Seen from a passing train, 5101 Class 2-6-2T No. 5101 is sitting in the yard outside Swindon Works, hopefully awaiting attention but more likely having arrived for scrapping. Its lined green livery still looks reasonably presentable, but did it ever steam again? Sunday 21st July 1963.

1963/07/21, 2. BR Standard 3MT 2-6-2T No. 82036 has just taken over from PBA 0-6-0ST S11 "Bristol" which had hauled the train on a tour of the Avonmouth Docks, and is about to depart for Clifton Down and on to Berkeley Road, Sharpness and other Gloucestershire branch lines. RCTS "The Gloucestershire Railtour" on Sunday 21st July 1963.

1963/10/26. GWR 61xx Class 2-6-2T No. 6135 has presumably had attention fairly recently at Swindon Works and been repainted in unlined green livery,which still looks fairly smart. It is standing in front of the ramp up to the coaling stage, which is full of 16 ton coal wagons, at Old Oak Common MPD and has just had its bunker filled with coal - some of the lumps look as though they will take a bit of manipulating to get them through the firehole door! Saturday 26th October 1963.

1963/12/15. In the gathering gloom of dusk at Southall MPD, 4575 Class "Small Prairie" 2-6-2T No. 5531 sits on one of the disposal roads amidst piles of still-glowing ash. In the left background is an unidentified "Castle" Class 4-6-0, while on the right is a 2-8-0 of 28xx Class, both dumped out of use. A track gang is at work, perhaps trying to find some track amongst the detritus! Sunday 15th December 1963.

1964/02/02. GWR 6100 Class 2-6-2T No. 6135 is being prepared at Old Oak Common MPD and looks quite well looked after in its plain green livery. Alongside is not so well looked after "Castle" Class 4-6-0 No. 7005 "Sir Edward Elgar", having just come "on shed". Sunday 2nd February 1964.

1964/03/21. From the Geoff Plumb Collection of original slides. A busy scene at Pontypool Road station as 41xx Class GWR "Prairie" 2-6-2T No. 4157 sits in the bay platform waiting to depart with the 14:25 train to Neath. A parcels train is at the platform alongside while another 2-6-2T potters about in the background and a couple of staff members perhaps discuss what to do with all the parcels and trolleys! Saturday 21st March 1964. Photographer unknown.

1964/05/03. GWR Churchward 4700 Class 2-8-0 No. 4703 sits inside one of the roundhouse bays at Old Oak Common engine shed. With its smokebox door open, it is presumably awating some attention. In the left background is "Castle" Class 4-6-0 No. 4082 "Windsor Castle", while on the right two "Western" Class 52 diesel hydraulics wait their next duties. Sunday 3rd May 1964.

1964/05/09, 1. LMS Stanier "Princess Coronation" class 4-6-2 No. 46251 "City of Nottingham" has just arrived at Didcot station with the RCTS "East Midlander No. 7" Railtour which it has just hauled from Nottingham Victoria. It was about to be replaced by SR "West Country" 34038 "Lynton" for the trip over the DN&S line to Eastleigh Works. Saturday 9th May 1964.

1964/05/09, 2. A Southern interloper at Swindon Works! Unrebuilt Bulleid "West Country" class 4-6-2 No. 34038 "Lynton" is turned on the turntable at Swindon after arriving with the RCTS "East Midlander No.7" Railtour, which it had hauled from Didcot via the DN&S to Eastleigh Works and then on to Swindon. Saturday 9th May 1964.

1964/05/09, 3. GWR "Castle" class 4-6-0 No. 7022 "Hereford Castle" stands alongside LMS "Princess Coronation" class 4-6-2 No. 46251 "City of Nottingham" outside Swindon engine shed on Saturday 9th May 1964. The "Castle" had been cleaned up as a standby engine for the Ian Allan railtour to celebrate "City of Truro's" record run of 1904, while 46251 was about to haul the RCTS "East Midlander No.7" railtour back to Nottingham.

1964/05/09, 4. GWR "Castle" class 4-6-0 No. 7022 "Hereford Castle" stands alongside LMS "Princess Coronation" class 4-6-2 No. 46251 "City of Nottingham" outside Swindon engine shed on Saturday 9th May 1964. The "Castle" had been cleaned up as a standby engine for the Ian Allan railtour to celebrate "City of Truro's" record run of 1904, while 46251 was about to haul the RCTS "East Midlander No.7" railtour back to Nottingham.

1964/05/09, 5. From the Geoff Plumb Collection of original slides. LMS "Princess Coronation" class 4-6-2 No. 46251 "City of Nottingham" outside Swindon engine shed on Saturday 9th May 1964. 46251 was about to haul the RCTS "East Midlander No.7" railtour back to Nottingham. Photographer unknown. I was at this location myself, but did not take a shot from this angle!

1964/05/09, 6. 58xx Class 0-4-2T No. 5815 was a regular engine on the Malmesbury branch in earlier years, but by this time had been stored near the old Stock Shed at Swindon Works for at least a couple of years. It has lost its front buffers (and possibly the rear ones too) and smokebox numberplate, but still retains its cabside numberplates and the original BR emblem. Saturday 9th May 1964.

1964/05/09, 7. GWR "County" class 4-6-0 No. 1014 "County of Glamorgan" looks unlikely to turn a wheel again as it stands bereft of name and numberplates outside the old Stock Shed at Swindon Works, Saturday 9th May 1964.

1964/05/09, 8. "Western" Class 52 C-C diesel hydraulic No. D1018 "Western Buccaneer" sits outside Swindon Works alongside classmate D1013 "Western Ranger" (now preserved), both carrying BR Maroon livery. Also in maroon livery in the background is LMS Stanier "Coronation" class 4-6-2 No. 46251 "City of Nottingham" which was visiting with an RCTS railtour from Nottingham. Ivatt 4MT 2-6-0 No. 43056 is also in the background. Saturday 9th May 1964.

1964/05/09, 9. GWR 2884 Class 2-8-0 No. 3848 at Swindon Works, Saturday 9th May 1964.

1964/05/23, 1. The first of the GWR "Modified Hall" class 4-6-0 No. 6959 "Peatling Hall" sits in the "Golden Valley" with a train of ballast wagons. The crew have got off the engine and contemplate the canal alongside the railway while they wait for the banking engine for assistance up the grade to Sapperton Tunnel. The banking engine (on this occasion 2-6-2T No. 5183) was based at Brimscombe shed, whose water tank can just be seen in the distance, above the curve in the road. Unfortunately, the train did not get under way while we were there! Saturday 23rd May 1964.

1964/05/23, 2. GWR 14xx Class 0-4-2T No. 1444 waits to depart from Brimscombe station with the "Chalford Flyer" autotrain from Chalford to Gloucester, here propelling the train. Saturday 23rd May 1964. This train had reversed here, rather than Chalford and was forming the 17:15 train to Gloucester.

1964/05/23, 3. GWR 14xx Class 0-4-2T No. 1444 waits to depart from Brimscombe station with the "Chalford Flyer" autotrain from Chalford to Gloucester, here propelling the train. Saturday 23rd May 1964.

1964/05/23, 4. GWR 0-4-2T No. 1444 stands in the platform at Brimscombe station with its one coach auto-train, awaiting departure time for Gloucester. Most of these trains ran to Chalford but this one had reversed here to form the 17:15 back to Gloucester, which the loco propelled. Saturday 23rd May 1964.

1964/05/23, 5. GWR 14xx class 0-4-2T No. 1444 starts away from Brimscombe propelling the 17:15 auto-train to Gloucester, which reversed here a short while earlier. The driver is in the front of the auto-coach, the loco is crewed by the fireman alone, following the driver's instructions. Saturday 23rd May 1964.

1964/05/23, 6. GWR 14xx 0-4-2T No. 1453 has shut off as it approaches Chalford station with the two-coach auto-train from Gloucester, known locally as "The Chalford Flyer" as it didn't hang about! Chalford, in the Golden Valley leading up to Sapperton Tunnel, was the terminating point for this train, it then returned to Gloucester with the loco propelling. Saturday 23rd May 1964.

1964/05/23, 7. Having arrived at Chalford a short while earlier from Gloucester, 0-4-2T No. 1453 has crossed over to the other platform prior to returning to Gloucester, propelling its two coach auto-train. This was the terminating point of "The Chalford Flyer", a station now long gone from the "Golden Valley". Saturday 23rd May 1964. Note the hand painted smokebox numberplate and original BR crest on the tanksides!

1964/05/23, 8. Having arrived at Chalford a short while earlier from Gloucester, 0-4-2T No. 1453 has crossed over to the other platform prior to returning to Gloucester with its two coach auto-train. This was the terminating point of "The Chalford Flyer", a station now long gone from the "Golden Valley". Saturday 23rd May 1964.

1964/05/23, 9. 14xx 0-4-2T No. 1453 now sets off from Chalford to return to Gloucester with its two coach auto-train, which it is propelling. Tree growth could be a problem even in those days! Saturday 23rd May 1964.

1964/08/15. Having arrived at Shrewsbury behind an unidentified BR Standard 4MT 4-6-0 on the summer Saturdays Only 07:20 train from Pwllheli to Paddington, the train has now reversed at Shrewsbury and is continuing its journey behind another unidentified engine, this time an ex-GWR "Hall" Class 4-6-0. View from the train as it rounds the curve towards Abbey Foregate en route to Wolverhampton, the signalling control wires and rodding being those from Severn Bridge signalbox out of sight to the right of the train. Saturday 15th August 1964.

1965/06/10. GWR 61xx Class 2-6-2T No. 6141 enters Loudwater station running bunkerfirst with the afternoon pick-up goods, 16:15 from High Wycombe to Bourne End and Maidenhead, then on to Slough. The signalman is on the crossing to collect the single line token from the engine crew. Thursday 10th June 1965. The track has now long since gone, the trackbed towards High Wycombe is now a footpath for some of the way and has been built on in other places. The site of the station is now covered by a small industrial estate.

1965/06/11, 1. GWR 61xx Class 2-6-2T No. 6160 shunts wagons at Wooburn Green station yard in the process of running the morning pick-up goods train from High Wycombe via Bourne End, Maidenhead and on to Slough on Friday 11th June 1965.

1965/06/11, 2. GWR 61xx Class 2-6-2T No. 6160 shunts wagons at Wooburn Green station yard in the process of running the morning pick-up goods train from High Wycombe via Bourne End, Maidenhead and on to Slough on Friday 11th June 1965.

1965/06/11, 3. GWR "Large Prairie" 61xx Class 2-6-2T No. 6160 trundles through Cookham station running bunkerfirst with the morning pick-up goods from High Wycombe to Bourne End, Maidenhead and on to Slough on Friday 11th June 1965. The station here still exists, though the track is now single, the loop having been removed. Trains still run from Maidenhead to Bourne End, with reversal there for Marlow.

1965/06/11, 4. GWR 61xx Class 2-6-2T No. 6143 is working the afternoon pick-up goods train, at this stage consisting of just a brakevan, the 16:15 from High Wycombe to Maidenhead and on to Slough. First stop was at Loudwater station, where the engine was due to shunt the yard until 18:38 before continuing. Friday 11th June 1965. The mainline to Paddington is on the other side of the valley, here at Wycombe Marsh. A little further on the trackbed is now covered by Loudwater County Combined School, though much of it is a public footpath.

1965/06/13, 1. In steam at Southall MPD in the foreground is the first of the "Modified Hall" Class 4-6-0s No. 6959 "Peatling Hall", whilst beyond is highly polished but out of steam No. 6938 "Corndean Hall", both have lost their nameplates by this stage, Sunday 13th June 1965.

1965/06/13, 2. GWR "Hall" Class 4-6-0 No. 6938 "Corndean Hall" has had its nameplates and smokebox numberplate removed but its brass and copper work is highly polished and the paintwork gleams. It is not in steam and stands out amongst various filthy engines at the depot at Southall. Another "Hall", 6959 "Peatling Hall", lets off steam outside the shed building alongside, while a 61xx 2-6-2T is behind and an unidentified LMS Stanier 2-8-0 is on the left of the picture. Sunday 13th June 1965.

1967/12/02, 1. On the extremely dull day of Saturday 2nd December 1967 the Great Western Society ran a special train, 2Z51, from Totnes to Didcot MPD, transferring their stock from The Dart Valley Railway to the Didcot Railway Centre. The entourage pauses for water at Westbury station, the double-headed train led by "Modified Hall" No. 6998 "Burton Agnes Hall". Behind is 14xx Class 0-4-2T No. 1466 and several coaches. This train ran almost a year after steam traction had been abolished from BR Western Region and at the time was thought to be perhaps one of the last steam-hauled trains to run over the region's metals. Fortunately, this did not prove to be the case!

1967/12/02, 2. GWR "Modified Hall" Class 4-6-0 No. 6998 "Burton Agnes Hall" at Westbury during the water and service stop with 2Z51, the Great Western Society special from Totnes to Didcot on Saturday 2nd December 1967. The engine was piloting 14xx 0-4-2T No. 1466 at the head of several coaches.

1970/07/xx. At Dai Woodham's famous scrapyard in Barry in July 1970, two of the hundreds of occupants stand alongside some wagons also there for scrap. Ex-Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway 7F 2-8-0 No. 53808 has had a coat of primer paint to protect it from the sea air before its removal from the yard for preservation, initially at Radstock. Due to the concentration on scrapping wagons, most of the engines at Barry survived into preservation eventually, but not the loco behind. This is NBL Co-Co "Warship" diesel hydraulic No. D601 "Ark Royal", one of several unsuccessful locos from that builder amongst the first generation diesels. It was built in 1958 and withdrawn in December 1967, ending up at Woodham's along with sister loco D600 "Active", which was scrapped in March 1970. D601 lasted another ten years after this shot, being scrapped in June 1980.

1970/xx/xx. From the Geoff Plumb Collection of original slides. Hymek diesel-hydraulic No. D7064 shunts the wagons of its train into the sidings at Fishguard harbour (?) at some time in the summer of 1970. The train consists of coal in 16 ton mineral wagons and several oil tank wagons. The headcode 4V03 referred to a Birmingham to Bristol Parcels train, so was perhaps the loco's previous working? Photographer unknown.

1972/08/xx, 1. Class 121 "Bubble Car" single unit No. B132 (W55032) has arrived at Severn Beach with a working from Bristol Temple Meads and a busy little scene ensues before it returns. It is in the bay platform, the other platform face was on the line to Pilning, by then freight only, now long gone altogether. August 1972.