GWR 42XX class 2-8-0T No 4272 at Swansea East Dock Shed in c1938.

Peter Kerslake says "With typical Welsh scenery in the background but recorded at an unknown depot "4200" class 4272 looks to be in fine condition in this 1938 portrait.
4272 was one of the later 1919/1920 built series, with a total of one hundred emerging from Swindon initially from 1912 and which continued in production until 1920, intended as heavy tank versions of the highly successful "2800" class of tender engines, the "4200's" being rostered within the areas of the South Wales coalfields with virually all the class being concentrated at Welsh Motive Power Depots throughout their working lives.
Longer runs, however, saw members of the class working heavy coal trains such as those between Pontypool Road and Shrewsbury and although the class was concentrated within Wales a couple spent many years working the china clay freights in the Saint Austell areas of Cornwall to Fowey Docks from their nearby St. Blazey depot.
Many of the class were rebuilt as 2-8-2's from the early 1930's permitting their use on long distance duties with both increased coal and water capacity, the first withdrawal being 4224 in 1959 whilst one of the later series, 5235 lasted until 1965, with eight being preserved."

Photo: H.R. Norman/Rail Archive Stephenson