West end of Reading shed viewed from the coal ramp

4702 shows signs of her firebox having been cleared by the shed staff with visible signs of ash on her cab sides and running plate , and the view also shows the tarpaulin protective cover for the footplate crews as the class did not benefit from the more substantial cabs of passenger locomotives .
Introduced in 1919 the nine members of Churchward's heavy feight locomotives spent most of their working lives allocated to Old Oak Common or Southall , with one or two enjoying brief spells at Laira and Bristol St. Philip's Marsh .
4702 seen here was allocated to Old Oak in her early days with British Railways , moving to Southall in September of 1961 and had the sad distinction of being the first to be withdrawn in November of 1962 , ending her days in Swindon's " C " Shop .
A decision to give the class a fully lined out green livery in the early ' sixties showed the fine lines of these splendid locomotives to advantage , especially when one would appear on a Summer Saturday express passenger working from Paddington to the Westcountry .