In poor weather conditions on a long freight

Machynlleth's 5507 has just traversed the four mile long straight section of line from the north aross Morfa Harlech and now runs into Harlech station , heading south on the line to Barmouth with a freight from the Pwllheli direction .
Overlooked by Harlech castle, the station here served this small seaside town of some 2000 souls , the station and its surrrounds being an important freight centre at the heart of a livestock and agricultural area , with its weekly cattle market bringing an increase in freight traffic and requiring additional motive power within the station and its freight yards .
The coach seen here on the right could well be one of two " grounded " bodies mounted on blocks and used at this time as goods offices and stores , there being a freight loop running here behind the southbound platform