This day on coal stage pilot duties as well as and probably moving dead engines around the shed

Little 1363 is seen here at the bottom of the run up to Laira Depot's coaling stage so is clearly on general shed duties which would include shoving loaded coal wagons up the ramp into the coaling stage as well as running empties back down again !
The lad in the background is sitting on a conveniently placed stack of old sleepers where we spent so many happy hours in those past days , with the main lines behind him .
Laira had been home to a number of these " 1361 " class saddle tanks for many years , a design which incorporated a short wheelbase to permit their use in tightly confined areas ,and it was within the Millbay Docks complex that a number would invaraibly be found at work , Millbay handling a variety of freight traffic as well as incoming mail and passengers from the Trans Atlantic Liners calling into Plymouth Sound on their passages from New York to London and France .
1363 made it into preservation after its front coupling and drawbar fractured when it was about to be towed to Swindon resulting in the engine remaining forgotten and alone in the Roundhouse until private purchase saved it !