One From Each Of The Big Four, Followed By An Islander, A Non-Standard Standard!

And Lastly A Mad Dash Of Colour.

Four years after this photograph was taken we would not have turned a hair as to the state of this Castle. However in 1960, a dirty Landore based Castle was a rarity. 7002 is obviously the shed spare and is being used as a replacement on this occasion. 'Spare' engines were employed on all sorts of duties and were strictly 'Common user' engines, therefore their cleanliness suffered as a result.

The most powerful engines on the Southern, long since having lost their number one status to the Bulleid Pacifics. Between August 1961 and November 1962, 15 of the 16 Lord Nelsons were savaged and cut up. Only 30850 Lord Nelson himself survived into preservation, but even that was touch and go at the time.

It was said that it took a mighty man to feed the voracious appetite of a mighty 'Duchess' pacific. One such, grabs a breath of fresh air before really getting down to the hard graft of firing to 'King George VI' as he accelerates rapidly Northwards with a Scottish Express. (Note how high the coal is piled on the tender.)

For every 'Streak' (A4) that a train spotter could expect to see working on the main line out of Kings Cross, he might expect to see at least five of these more robust A1 pacifics. Together with the A3s, the A1s did all the everyday grit and grime express passenger work on this section of the system. If an A4 was not available for a top link prestigious express, it was more often than not an A1 would be the substitute, as they could fly a bit too. 

One of the lovely old O2 Tank engines that ran on the archaic Isle of Wight railway system, in the far off days of English sea-side holidays with lettered rock and ice cream. What a joy it was to disembark from the old paddle steamers at Ryde pier, and then potter around the Island on these ancient trains, through pretty little postcard railway stations. Mmmm.... lazy summer days!

This mighty locomotive was meant to be a 'Super engine' but due to design faults 'The Duke' never really reached his full potential. Consequently he was never very popular with engine crews, for whom his performance could be desultory. When Dieselisation spelt the end for steam, no-one wanted to spend money on getting this unique engine right. It was a shame as expectations of his performance were amazing. Now brilliantly preserved, and remedial work having been carried out as to his faults, perhaps we will see this remarkable machine finally reach its full potential? 

Good old Ilford-colour again. I think the driver of this Southern Exchange Express for Oxford and the North, has forgotten the Basingstoke stop. He was really flying as he came into the station, but I'm glad to say stopped quite easily in the event. Southern main line locomotives penetrated deep into GWR territory on these workings, coming off at Oxford or sometimes even Banbury, to head a return working Southwards from the Midlands and beyond.