1962/04/14. LMS 2P 4-4-0 No. 40646 was the last survivor of its class and is here taking over an SLS Special at Luton Bute Street station from GNR 0-6-0ST No. 1247 (seen in the background left) which had brought the train from Hatfield. 40646 continued to Leighton Buzzard and then north along the WCML. Saturday 14th April 1962.

1962/08/25, 1. LMS Fowler 4MT 2-6-4T No. 42350 sits in the platform at Uppingham station in Rutland, end of the branch line from Seaton Junction. It is at the head of 1X72, RCTS "The Fernie Railtour" from Northampton. Saturday 25th August 1962. 2-6-2T No. 41225 is on the rear of the train.

1963/02/23. From the Geoff Plumb Collection of original slides. A couple of protoype main line diesel electrics, Nos. 10000 and 10202, at Derby Works, 23rd February 1963. 10000 was one of a pair built by the LMS in 1947/48, English Electric 1600hp Co-Co, while 10202 was built in 1950/51 for BR Southern Region, English Electric 1750hp 1 Co-Co 1. Both were withdrawn in December 1963 and scrapped at Cashmore's, Great Bridge, in January 1968. Photo by D.E. White.

1963/05/11, 1. LNER B1 Class 4-6-0 No. 61004 "Oryx" is at the head of the joint RCTS/LCGB "North Midlands Railtour" at Codnor Park Junction as it takes the line to Butterley, Ambergate and on to Buxton. Saturday 11th May 1963.

1963/05/11, 2. LNER B1 Class 4-6-0 No. 61004 "Oryx" stands in the Midland station at Buxton with the joint RCTS/LCGB special "The North Midlands Railtour" waiting to depart for Ashbourne and Burton-on-Trent, Saturday 11th May 1963. This entailed reversal at Buxton East Junction, a propelling move to Buxton No. 1 Junction and then heading south on the LNWR line!

1963/05/11, 4. LNER B1 Class 4-6-0 No. 61004 "Oryx" having just arrived at Burton-upon-Trent with the joint RCTS/LCGB "North Midlands Railtour". Already, the "Class 1" headcode lamps have been changed to "light engine" as it is about to be replaced by Bulleid "West Country" Class 4-6-2 No. 34006 "Bude" for the return run to London St. Pancras. The crew of an LMS 4F 0-6-0 alongside watch proceedings. Saturday 11th May 1963.

1963/05/18, 1. An LMS 4F 0-6-0 in an unusual state - clean! No. 44414 stands at Uppingham station with an RCTS special, "The Joint Lines Railtour" on Saturday 18th May 1963. The original slide was badly damaged during processing and has been "rescued" - to a certain extent - in Photoshop, so some loco details are not accurate!

1963/05/18, 2. Seen from the footplate of LMS 2-6-4T No. 42087, "Black 5" 4-6-0 No. 45238 is double-heading an RCTS special "The Joint Lines Tour" here heading for the junction approaching Luffenham from Seaton Junction. The train reversed at Luffenham before heading for Manton Junction. Saturday 18th May 1963.

1963/05/18, 3. Seen from the footplate of 4-6-0 No. 45238, the setting sun adds a rosy glow to the sky as the "Black 5" and 2-6-4T No. 42087 await the road at Manton Junction, having arrived from Luffenham with the RCTS "The Joint Lines Railtour" on Saturday 18th May 1963.

1963/05/18, 4. LMS "Black 5" 4-6-0 No. 45238 at Cottesmore, the end of the Midland Railway branch from near Ashwell, north of Oakham. It is at one end of an RCTS special "The Joint Lines Railtour" (2-6-4T No. 42087 was at the other end) which had started from Nottingham London Road goods yard earlier in the day. Saturday 18th May 1963.

1963/08/27, 1. LMS Ivatt 2MT 2-6-2T No. 41234 is a Bangor (6H) engine and is shunting in the yard at Amlwch, terminus of the branch from Gaerwen on the main line to Holyhead in Anglesey, Tuesday 27th August 1963.

1963/08/27, 2. LMS Ivatt Class 2MT 2-6-2T No. 41226 is one of the class fitted with auto-train equipment and is in charge of the two-coach auto-train working between Amlwch and Bangor. Having just arrived back at Amlwch from Bangor, it is leaving the station to take water in the yard, there being no water column on the platform. Tuesday 27th August 1963.

1963/08/27, 3. LMS 4F 0-6-0 No. 44504 alongside the MPD at Bangor with a brakevan in tow. The engine is fitted with a tender cab and its LMS chimney has been replaced by a BR standard version. It still has the old BR "Ferret & Dartboard" totem on the tender and doesn't look like it gets much in the way of cleaning! Tuesday 27th August 1963.

1963/08/27, 4. Ivatt Class 2MT 2-6-2T No. 41226 was one of those fitted with equipment for working "Auto-trains" and is here in the platform at Amlwch station having just arrived from Bangor with its two-coach train. It is now preparing to depart once more on the long branch to Gaerwen, across the Menai bridge and back to Bangor. Tuesday 27th August 1963.

1963/08/27, 5. LMS Ivatt 2MT Class 2-6-2T No. 41226 is one of the class fitted with auto-train equipment for working "push-pull" trains. It is leaving the terminus at Amlwch at the end of the branch line from Gaerwen with a two coach auto-train to Bangor on Tuesday 27th August 1963.

1963/08/29. Dinas Junction station on the erstwhile LNWR line from Menai Bridge to Afon Wen via Caernarfon was already closed as can be seen from the grass-grown platforms, and work seems to be going on around the signalbox and associated equipment. The 'box has lost its nameboard and the foreground signal has lost its control wires. Part of the platform has been repaved, apparently for a visit by the Royal Train a while before. The junction was with the Welsh Highland Railway and part of the trackbed from Caernarfon to Dinas has been used for the rebuilding of that line. Thursday 29th August 1963.

1963/10/13, 1. LMS Hughes/Fowler Class 5 2-6-0 "Crab" No. 42896 stands at Lichfield Trent Valley High Level station with 1X52, "RCTS The East Midlander No. 6" Railtour, having taken water and now waiting a connection from the main line. The train had started from Nottingham Midland and visited Crewe Works and Horwich Works. Sunday 13th October 1963.

1963/10/13, 2. LMS "Jubilee" 6P 4-6-0 No. 45596 "Bahamas" has arrived at Horwich Works, presumably towed there together with its tender on a well-wagon, but where from and why? Repairs were obviously undertaken as the engine returned to traffic for a few more years and it was eventually preserved in working order. Sunday 13th October 1963.

1963/10/13, 3. LMS Stanier 8F 2-8-0 No. 48343 is just ex-works and repainted in the yard at Horwich Works. It is carrying a 2B shedcode plate, at this stage Nuneaton MPD, but later Oxley (Wolverhampton) after BR regional boundary changes. Sunday 13th October 1963. Beyond is another unidentified 8F, also just out of the works.

1963/10/13, 4. L & Y R 0-6-0ST No. 11324 (still carrying its LMS number) is one of the works shunters at Horwich Works on Sunday 13th October 1963. Introduced in 1891, this was an Aspinall rebuild of Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Barton Wright Class 23 0-6-0, originally introduced in 1877. Scrawled in chalk on the engine is the legend "Sold" - so where did it go?

1963/10/13, 5. All the fours! LMS 4F 0-6-0 No. 44444 meets its fate on the scrap road at Horwich Works amid the remains of fellow steam engines. The works themselves are now but a memory... Sunday 13th October 1963.

1963/10/13, 6. L & Y R 0-6-0ST No. 11368 (still carrying its LMS number) is one of the works shunters at Horwich Works on Sunday 13th October 1963. Introduced in 1891, this was an Aspinall rebuild of Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Barton Wright Class 23 0-6-0, originally introduced in 1877. Photo taken during a visit by the RCTS "East Midlander No. 6 Railtour", hence the visitors wandering around in the background!

1963/10/13, 7. Horwich Works had its own internal narrow gauge system built to 18" gauge, which was used to convey materials around the site. One of the locos was "Wren" an 0-4-0STT which is seen here after the system was taken out of use. It is preserved in full BR lined black livery, plinthed on an old section of track in a corner of the main erecting shop at the works. Sunday 13th October 1963. The engine was one of eight used on the system, "Wren" was built by Beyer, Peacock in 1887 and is now at the National Railway Museum in York.

1964/05/09, 1. LMS Stanier "Princess Coronation" class 4-6-2 No. 46251 "City of Nottingham" at Rugby Central station on the GCR main line with the "RCTS The East Midlander No. 7" railtour from Nottingham Victoria to Eastleigh and Swindon Works, Saturday 9th May 1964. Note the Gresley Parcels Coaches in the background, with baskets of racing pigeons being unloaded!

1964/05/09, 2. LMS Stanier "Princess Coronation" class 4-6-2 No. 46251 "City of Nottingham" at Woodford Halse station on the GCR main line with the "RCTS The East Midlander No. 7" railtour from Nottingham Victoria to Eastleigh and Swindon Works, Saturday 9th May 1964.

1964/08/01. A 4-Car DMU runs into the passing loop at Dolwyddelen station on the Conwy valley line from Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog, with a train from Llandudno on Saturday 1st August 1964.

1965/11/02. Seen from the front of a DMU from Stoke-on-Trent to Macclesfield and Manchester, LMS "Jinty" 3F 0-6-0T No. 47521 is shunting in the yards near Etruria station as the sun sets over the industrial landscape. Tuesday 2nd November 1965.

1965/12/04. Stanier "Jubilee" Class 6P 4-6-0 No. 45654 "Hood" is one half of a double-header with classmate 45596 "Bahamas" at the head of the RCTS "Jubilee Commemorative Railtour", here posing in the fog at Huddersfield station. The tour had started as two separate trains, 45654 hauling a portion from Liverpool while 45596 came from Crewe, the two parts combining at Manchester Exchange for the run to York and return. Saturday 4th December 1965.

1966/03/26. BR Standard 3MT 2-6-0 No. 77011 is dumped at Northwich MPD, adjacent to the station, along with Stanier 8F 2-8-0 No. 48639 and a rather ancient looking mess coach. It is standing under the wooden mock-up of the electrification catenary, used for training purposes in anticipation of the forthcoming electrification programme. Photo taken from a passing train. Saturday 26th March 1966.

1966/05/07, 01. Stanier "Black 5" 4-6-0 No. 44800 comes off shed at Chester MPD for its next duty on Saturday 7th May 1966, seen from a passing train from Crewe.

1966/05/07, 02. "Black 5" Class 4-6-0's No. 45283 & 44800 are two separate light engines which have just come off shed and are now waiting alongside Chester station before continuing their journeys. Another "Black 5", No. 45424, is approaching in the background by the LNWR signalbox with an up freight train. Saturday 7th May 1966. This was prior to the resignalling scheme and many LNWR lower quadrant semaphore signals still remained.

1966/05/07, 03. "Black 5" 4-6-0 No. 45283 is waiting for the road in the foreground as classmate 45424 heads in the opposite direction with an up freight train at Chester station, Saturday 7th May 1966. Several first generation DMU's lurk in the shed in the background.

1966/05/07, 04. LMS Stanier 8F 2-8-0 No. 48723 has just passed the LNWR Chester No. 2 signalbox as it makes its way from the station to the engine shed at Chester, with a wonderful array of semaphore signalling. Saturday 7th May 1966.

1966/05/07, 05. Tucked away at the back of Chester MPD is "Jinty" 3F 0-6-0T No. 47614, getting some attention to its centre driving wheels. These have been removed and can be seen on the right of the picture (the ones with the crank axle), together with others, possibly from loco tenders. Saturday 7th May 1966.

1966/05/07, 06. Utterly filthy BR Standard 7MT "Britannia" Class 4-6-2 No. 70001 "Lord Hurcomb" (minus nameplates) pulls away from Chester passing Chester No. 1 signalbox as it takes the Warrington and Manchester line with an express from Holyhead. Saturday 7th May 1966.

1966/05/07, 07. "Black 5" 4-6-0 No. 45325 is running tenderfirst light engine back to the Motive Power Depot at Chester, passing Chester No. 1 signalbox on the lines to Crewe. The lines on the right led to Warrington and Manchester. In the background is a wonderful gantry of LNWR lower quadrant semaphore signals, beyond the bridge is Chester No. 2 signalbox and the station beyond that. Saturday 7th May 1966.

1966/05/07, 08. BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 No. 92078 is in the usual BR standard state - filthy! It is standing alongside Chester station by a wonderful LNWR water column with a goods train and has just got the road from the signal on the gantry. Saturday 7th May 1966.

1966/05/07, 09. BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 No. 92078 starts away from alongside Chester station by a wonderful LNWR water column with a northbound goods train, having just got the road from the signal on the gantry. Saturday 7th May 1966.

1966/05/07, 10. Seen from a DMU bound towards Birkenhead from Chester, BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 No. 92102 is heading south light engine through Hooton station, watched by a lone enthusiast on the platform. Scrawled in chalk on the smokebox door is the headcode 4Z25, not applicable at that moment! Note the water column on the platform, complete with coal fired brazier to stop it from freezing in winter, hopefully not required by this time! Saturday 7th May 1966.

1966/05/07, 11. BR Standard 4MT 4-6-0 No. 75011 sits and simmers in the yard at Birkenhead MPD, along with various other engines. The depot's coaling towers can be seen to the right of the picture and dockyard cranes dominate the skyline. Saturday 7th May 1966.

1966/05/07, 12. LMS "Jinty" 3F 0-6-0T No. 47447 potters around at Birkenhead MPD, possibly acting as shed pilot loco on Saturday 7th May 1966.

1966/05/07, 13. LMS Hughes-Fowler "Crab" 2-6-0 No. 42812 sits under the coaling-tower at Birkenhead MPD on the afternoon of Saturday 7th May 1966.

1966/05/07, 14. Also seen earlier the same day at Chester, Fairburn 4MT 2-6-4T No. 42086 has been on Birkenhead MPD for servicing and is now about to go off shed for its next duty, though its external condition leaves a lot to be desired! Alongside is a similarly run-down looking Standard 9F 2-10-0. Birkenhead MPD, Saturday 7th May 1966.

1966/05/07, 15. LMS Hughes-Fowler "Crab" 2-6-0 No. 42812 sits under the coaling-tower at Birkenhead MPD on the afternoon of Saturday 7th May 1966.

1966/05/07, 16. LMS Stanier Class 4MT 2-6-4T No. 42581 is out of use at Birkenhead MPD, its wheels chocked and a fire-iron dumped unceremoniously down its chimney! Saturday 7th May 1966.

1966/05/07, 17. LMS Stanier Class 4MT 2-6-4T No. 42581 is out of use at Birkenhead MPD, its wheels chocked and a fire-iron dumped unceremoniously down its chimney! It is stored next to an old LMS carriage relegated to departmental use, which has also seen better days! Saturday 7th May 1966.

1966/05/07, 18. Fairburn 4MT 2-6-4T No. 42121 was still in use but is here dead on shed at Birkenhead MPD, alongside a Standard 9F 2-10-0. It is standing under wooden mock-ups of the new overhead electrical catenary supports, part of the training regime for crews to get used to the dangers of using fire-irons and clambering around on tanks or tenders under the wires! Saturday 7th May 1966.

1966/05/07, 19. Carrying class 1 headcode lamps, Stanier 2-6-4T No. 42616 has just backed onto its train and the driver is supervising the coupling up to the coaches at Birkenhead Woodside station. This engine took the train, a through working to London Paddington, as far as Chester, where more coaches were added and the train reversed. Saturday 7th May 1966.

1966/05/07, 20. LMS Stanier Class 4MT 2-6-4T No. 42616 stands at the head of an express passenger train from Birkenhead Woodside to Paddington which it worked as far as Chester where the train reversed and had more coaches added. It is facing the stygian depths of the tunnel which led towards Rock Ferry. Saturday 7th May 1966.

1966/05/07, 21. Carrying class 1 headcode lamps, Stanier 2-6-4T No. 42616 has just backed onto its train and coupled up to the coaches at Birkenhead Woodside station. This engine took the train, a through working to London Paddington, as far as Chester, where more coaches were added and the train reversed. Saturday 7th May 1966.

1966/05/07, 22. "Black 5" 4-6-0 No. 45427 sits by the water column alongside the goods loops at Chester General station as it awaits the road with its northbound freight train, on the sunny evening of Saturday 7th May 1966.

1966/05/21, 1. BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 No. 92077 takes the RCTS "East Midlander" tour round the curve from Ambergate West Junction to Ambergate East Junction, passing through one part of the triangular station, sadly in the process of demolition. Saturday 21st May 1966.

1966/05/21, 2. BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 No. 92077 is at the head of the RCTS "East Midlander No. 9" Railtour as it rounds the curve at Codnor Park Junction to head back to Nottingham from Crewe via Millers Dale on Saturday 21st May 1966.

1966/07/21, 1. LMS Stanier 8F 2-8-0 No. 48182 arriving from the Morecambe direction into the Heysham Harbour complex with a brakevan in tow. It is crossing over to enter the yard to the right of the Midland signalbox and about to pass under a surviving catenary arch from the Midland electrification scheme. This dated from 1908 and had finally succumbed some months earlier. The ferry sailings to Belfast ceased in 1975 and there is now very little left at this location after the oil sidings closed as well. Thursday 21st July 1966.

1966/07/21, 2. Stanier "Black 5" 4-6-0 No. 44932 is carrying the headcode 1Z01 and Class 1 headlamps but is propelling the Inspection Saloon into Heysham Harbour station from the Morecambe direction. The remains of the Midland Railway electrification scheme from Morecambe and Lancaster can still be seen in the form of catenary poles, this service had closed some months earlier, having started in 1908. The Midland Railway signalbox was later demolished and another one built on the other side of the main lines into the station, nearer the oil sidings. Almost all of this scene has now gone, the railway here now being very basic. No. 44932 survives in preservation, however. Thursday 21st July 1966.

1966/07/21, 3. Stanier 8F 2-8-0 No. 48182 has left its train in the yard at Heysham Harbour and is now making its way light engine back towards Morecambe and Hest Bank, possibly bound for Carnforth shed. The yards are pretty full of wagons and a couple of ships can be seen berthed in the harbour. The signalman can also be seen inside the Midland Railway signalbox and the remains of some of the overhead catenary of the Midland electrified line from Lancaster are also apparent. Thursday 21st July 1966.

1966/08/28. From the Geoff Plumb collection of original slides. LMS "Jubilee" 6P 4-6-0 No. 45647 "Sturdee" has been nicely cleaned up and some white paint applied to the buffers and smokebox door hinges. It has had its nameplates removed and the shedcode 55C (Farnley) is painted on the smokebox door. Whatever duty it has been prepared for (it was working summer weekend trains to and from Leeds), it has a full load of coal! Llandudno Junction MPD, Sunday 28th August 1966. Photographer unknown.

1966/09/24. From the Geoff Plumb collection of original slides. LMS Hughes/Fowler "Crab" Class 5 2-6-0 No. 42942 pauses at Rhuddlan with an enthusiasts' special, the castle dominating the background. This was on the line from Rhyl to Corwen, and the train was hauled as far as Denbigh by 42942, where reversal took place and the train returned to Rhyl. This was an LCGB special, the "Conway Valley Railtour" on Saturday 24th September 1966. Photographer unknown.

1967/08/23, 1. BR Standard 4MT 4-6-0 No. 75015 is approaching the quarry workings at Swinden, Rylstone, on the Grassington branch from Skipton with a pick-up goods train, mainly of coal in 16 ton wagons. This worked right through to Grassington which was still open for goods at this stage. Wednesday 23rd August 1967.

1967/08/23, 2. 75015 has now stopped at the sidings alongside Swinden Quarry, Rylstone, with its pick-up goods train to Grassington from Skipton, where it is about to do some shunting, Wednesday 23rd August 1967.