'Jubilee' class 4-6-0 No.45639 Raleigh, of Leeds Holbeck shed, prepares to haul the down "Thames-Clyde Express" out of St. Pancras on 17/6/1960.

An up Express arrives from Nottingham, hauled by 'Jubilee' No.45641 Sandwich, on the same day.

A rough trip in prospect. Not a trace of steam at the safety valves, the blower definitely not on and the injector has 'knocked off'. I don't much fancy the chances of an on time arrival at Nottingham! 'Jubilees' were quite well known for running a little shy for steam at times. 45611 looks like she's having one of those times.

Rebuilt 'Jubilee' No.45736 Phoenix, clearing her throat through Willesden Junction, on her journey to Crewe, where she will be relieved, and a compatriot will take over the train on its continuing journey to the North West.

73A Stewarts Lane, during my time there. A pale shadow of its former self. Steam still in residence but the future all too evident in the new electric shed seen in the background. 'Hornby's,' 'Electro-Diesels.' and Bo-Bo 'Electric Locomotives,' all to be seen waiting for a job.

Over to the left , note the narrowness of the rake of Hastings line carriage stock, and one of our venerable E2 "Brighton tank" class 0-6-0Ts working back to the shed, light engine, possibly from a trip to Herne Hill sidings. To the right a 'Spam Can' brews up in the shed yard in readiness for its boat train working to the channel ports. "Keep the smoke down! No Bullied fug or you'll have Fred Pankhurst chasing your tail!" (typically hard to keep her from blowing off though.)

My very first firing turn remembered here, on the coal stage pilot. On this occasion the duty has fallen to an 'H' class 0-4-4T, possibly No.31542 substituting for 'P' class 0-6-0T No.31558 having a boiler washout.

"Monty's, U boats, Chatham Cs, Teddy Bears, Vulcans, and Superheaters" all still resident at the time, and note the ex G.W.R pannier tank over to the right, "tutting" by on its way to Battersea yard.

I'm not sure how this wonderful photograph came into my possession? Unfortunately it is not one of mine, having been taken in the early 1950s, before my time in railway service. I only wish I had been old enough to have been a fireman there in those days - 'The Glory Days' of Stewarts Lane. It depicts (from L to R) Fred Pankhurst, running foreman, Mr. Richard Hardy shedmaster, and top link driver Sammy Gingell. More than any other, these three epitomised all that was so great about Stewarts Lane. Great legends. Great engineers. And great railwaymen. We shall never see their like again.

(If there is a copyright on this photo I will gladly address the issue. I hope that the owner will forgive its use without prior permission, but in the context of my story I just could not leave it out.)