Laira shed's Pannier Tank 3686 is shown here running up through a sparkling Saltash station and shortly to come on to the start of Mr. Brunel's Royal Albert Bridge with a mixed freight destined for Plymouth , probably to the Tavistock Junction freight yards to the east of Laira.
The immaculate condition of the station and its platforms as seen here sadly contrasts with the station's condition today , with the splendid structures on the right all now unused and hidden from view by vandal proof boarding , and the footbridge has long since passed into history , whilst the imposing Wesley Chapel rising above this scene in the backgound was itself destroyed by fire some years later .
Saltash was such a well patronised station at this period in time , its daily commuters to and from Plymouth being served by frequent Auto Train services , but the opening of the road bridge in the late ' sixties brought about a massive reduction in the number of such daily local rail passengers , and Saltash station 's fortunes rapidy diminished