GWR 61xx 2-6-2T No.6169 at Ranelagh Bridge on 4th April 1957.

Bill Elkins an Old Oak fireman explains "These locomotives were hardly Firemen friendly. On entering the cab via a raised platform, one had to step down to the footplate proper to be able to access the coal bunker shovel plate, and the fire hole. As you can imagine, actually swinging a loaded shovel was nigh on impossible, so precise placement was the order of the day".

Peter Kerslake adds "An unusual visitor to to the yard 6169 which normally serviced main line express passsenger locomotives which needed to be turned on the single manually operated turntable before being watered and made ready by their crews for their return back home from Paddington. Providing an essential service from 1907 until late 1965 the yard occupied a small triangular site, overlooked on one side by the backs of dwellings on Gloucester Terrace but space within the yard was limited and the Yardmaster's task of ensuring that engines were all in the right place in time to run back up to Paddington for their return working home again must have been demanding indeed."