A very unusual movement with an eastbound train departing from Platform 7, which was usually the westbound platform for trains from the valleys to Penarth or Barry. The paper 1Z71 stickers on the coach suggests an excursion but whether a return working from Barry island or a returning rugby international extra would be interesting to know why it would be running 'wrong line'.

Lin Bryant continues "I thought at a glance it was departing from Platform 4 which would still have been 'wrong line' but probably more likely than Platform 7. The giveaway is the water crane which was available for 'up' trains on Platform 6 whereas Platforms 3/4 were wider and both 'down' platforms so had no water provision at the 'up' end. John Hodge in his excellent book on Cardiff in his South Wales main line series has an illustration of a Barry Island excursion going from the 'main line' down relief into Platform 7 which is at least in the normal running direction, I recall from hours spent on Cardiff General this was also used at times for freight from the Newport direction towards Barry. The most likely option I can think of is an excursion from the valleys to London (for example) which has been brought to Cardiff by a tank engine into platform 7 and the tender loco attached to the 'wrong' end to proceed eastwards."

David McCall may have the answer "As far as I am aware 6918 travelled from Bridgend to Stratford Upon Avon, (or it could have been to London Paddington, I cannot quite remember) & back the same day via the Vale of Glamorgan line on a school special picking up at stations en route including Llantwit Major, St Athan ( where I boarded the train) , Aberthaw, Barry etc, the reason I know this was because I was 12 or 13 and on this special train at the time and this was a school special to I beleive either Stratford Upon Avon or London Paddington and back and I was hauled by Sandon Hall, this I remember very well, it might not be the same train at Cardiff in the picture, I beleive 6918 was a Cardiff East Dock engine at the time.The mystery might be solved who knows."