Taken against the light, unfortunately, Taunton shed's 5999 " Wollaton Hall " and 5060, "Earl of Berkeley" , an Old Oak Common engine accelerate away from the top of Hemerdon Bank , east of Plymouth on the 21st. April, 1956 with the 3.45.p.m. from Plymouth ( the 12 noon from Penzance ) "North Mail " , with a Travelling Post Office van leading the formation.5999 will assist over the banks to Newton Abbot only , whilst the "Castle " will work through to Bristol Temple Meads , and thence later that same evening from Bristol to Paddington on an express.

Looking closely at this picture it shows how the line vanishes from sight below the road bridge and drops from view down the 1 in 42 gradient of Hemerdon bank , the bridge , of course , being at the summit of the long climb from Plympton.
The " cross over " and pointwork in the foreground show where banking engines used to assist ascending freights up the bank could run as light engines back on the down line to Marsh Mills freight yards once their banking duties had been completed , rather in the style of the Lickey Incline at Bromsgrove and Blackwell.