A spotless No 1016 ‘County of Hants’ passes through Hereford station on 17th August 1959. A Shrewesbury locomotive. Heading in the direction of Gloucester.

According to the excellent David Hey Collection website, train 439 was the 1045 SX Manchester/0915 SO Liverpool – Plymouth. This was a Monday so it will be the train originating from Manchester. This just poses more questions however. Why was the County in one of the middle roads not the platform? Was it replaced by a different locomotive at Hereford, or was the County attaching or detaching a vehicle to the front of the train before proceeding onwards? Shrewsbury was one of the very few depots were the Counties found favour with crews and they were often used on Salop's "lodging turn" to Newton Abbott. Note the excellent turn out of the loco..

Photo by and copyright of David P Williams