A really splendid shot of 6990 " Witherslack Hall " looking her best in the lined green livery applied to the class in their later years.
Members of the " Hall " class allocated to Old Oak Common in the mid ' fifties were infrequent visitors to the far Westcountry but I recall my delight in capturing on film 6990 as she came up past Lipson Junction at Plymouth on the 16th . May , 1956 , resplendent in her new green livery and at the head of a lengthy set of empty French Line Boat Train stock destined for Millbay Docks and a Special Working up to Paddington the following day.
This engine took part in the 1948 Locomotive Exchanges , running between Marylebone to Manchester , its performance being compared with a Midland Region Class Five , an Eastern Region " B1 " and a Southern Region " Westcountry ".
Saved from the cutters ' torches whilst at Barry following withdrawal in late 1965 this engine has since maintained a lengthy association with the Heritage Great Central Railway .