GWR '4575’ 2-6-2T No.5553 arrives at Portmadoc with a Class ‘9’ goods train from Pwllheli. It had been transferred from Bristol Bath Road in December 1958 and was at Machynlleth for two years, until December 1960. On the right of the picture is the two-road engine shed which under British Railways became a sub-shed of Machynlleth with six or seven engines, usually a couple of 2-6-2Ts and ‘2251’ 0-6-0s, stabled there overnight every day in the early 1950s. Their duties included banking/piloting over Minffordd summit, local goods trains to Barmouth and Pwllheli and passenger trains to Pwllheli and Machynlleth. Note the shed windows are covered with mesh, presumably to protect them from stones falling from wagons freshly loaded at Garth Quarry.

Photo: Kenneth Field/Rail Archive Stephenson