The first of Churchward's massive heavy freight 2-8-0 " 47XX " class shows her classic lines to advantage in this photograph , making a relatively rare daytime appearance as her and her eight sisters were used mainly on heavy and fast fitted freights primarily during the hours of darkness , hence their being known as the " Night Owls ".
Their appearance being further enhanced in their later years by being given a fully lined out green livery , one would often be rostered on to a Summer Services Saturday express passenger working from Paddington down to the Westcountry , particularly on the 1.30.p.m. departure , the " Royal Duchy " , working through to Plymouth .
With a rake of chocolate and cream stock , and in their lined green livery , that was a sight to remember !

4700 looks as though she's recently been through Swindon Works in this splenddid view and some stalwart has most unusually taken the trouble to specially clean the smokebox door straps !

4700's driver is clearly proud of his steed , the first of her small class , and 4700 had been an Old Oak Common engine for many years before a move down the line to Southall in September of 1961 and then to Bristol St . Philip's Marsh .
Sadly 4700 was an early casualty , being condemned in late 1962.
Banbury , the location of this fine image , was for many years an important freight centre, especially during the war years , being located between the East Midlands , London and the South Coast and its Motive Power Depot was home to more than seventy locomotives in the ' fifties , the Depot being transferred from the Western to the Midland Region in 1963 before closing in October of 1966