LNER J39 No.64863 and K1 62056 on August 1, 1950 with an Up freight heading towards Harrogate up the bank from Dragon Jct (and probably from Bilton Jct) which is 1 in 66 all the way and was the reason for what Starbeck always called a "banker" but was actually a pilot engine. Note the NER signal with the very early simple wooden finial, it's Harrogate North's Up distant, a real antique with its economical finial which seems to have been a York district speciality.

It's most likely a freight from Newport (Middlesbrough) and also likely to be heading for Church Fenton via Wetherby - the "banker" will come off at Wetherby and turn on the triangle there, ready to assist the next down freight up the bank through Spofforth to Crimple Jct and Bilton, where the whole process started again.

Photo: W.S. Garth/Rail Archive Stephenson