Piloting a King with at least 10 on, As originally built running with a Hawksworth tender

The year would indicate that this is a wartime picture with the consequential shortage of shed staff making itself apparent by the external condition of both engines .
6971 " Athelhampton Hall " has doubtless just come on to this working here at Newton Abbot in order to assist the " King " over the South Devon banks down to Plymouth , and being wartime I expect that the formidable looking load is probably packed with servicemen , especially Naval personnel heading for Devonport.
This was the exact location of a German air attack which caused serious damage to the station , its tracks and a number of locomotives within the Depot yard