Peter Kerslake comments "Even in the days of steam the chances of photographing a Western Region "King" alongside a London Midland Region "Princess Royal" would have been remote, but luck was with me at Laira shed in February, 1956. When all the "Kings"were taken "off the road" due to cracks being discovered in some of the bogie frames four locomotives were hastily sent to Old Oak Common from the Midland Region to assist on the Paddington to Plymouth and Wolverhampton services.
46210 worked the down " Cornish Riviera" from Paddington to Plymouth on the 10th. February, 1956 but suffered a collapsed firebox brick arch on the way down and is seen here awaiting replacement bricks in Laira's Long Shed with 6017, minus its bogie alongside. Laira's fitters have taken the opportunity to replace 6017's piston valve rings whilst she's waiting the return of her bogie from Swindon works where strengthening work on it would be carried out"