These four bankers are coupled together and running back down to Bromsgrove shed after assisting something up the Lickey as far as Blackwell, two " Jinties " and two Western Panniers.
The poor old signalmen at Blackwell must have had their work cut out to get all Bromsgrove's bankers back down for further duties and to provide a path for them , particularly on Summer Saturdays , as everything in the early days over three coaches had to have a banker from Bromsgrove , and although there were special arrangements which allowed for more than one train in any section descending the bank the method seen here would have been more widely operated .
The use of no fewer than seven Western region Pannier Tanks from 1956 was short lived , however , and larger locomotives followed , with 92079 coming on scene in later years.
Following earlier trials in July of 1956 with Pannier Tank number 8402 from Cardiff Canton , a total of seven of the class were subsequently reallocated to Bromsgrove in order to assist with banking duties on the infamous Lickey Incline , that number later being added to by a further six .
8404 and her sister 8403 had come from as far away as Newton Abbot in late 1956 and early 1957, a far cry from Bromsgrove , with others being sent from Cardiff East Dock ( 8400 ) , Severn Tunnel Junction ( 8401 ) , Duffryn Yard ( 8405 ) and Newport ( 8406 ).
The two Pannier Tanks and two " Jinties " seen here are running back down from Blackwell to the extensive coaling and watering depot on the " up " side of Bromsgrove station where they will take their place in strict order ready for their next call to duty.