‘Britannia’ No. 70027 Royal Star southbound on a Parcels train running under Class ‘C’ lamps. The leading vehicles are a BR Mk.1 BG, a SR designed PMV, followed by an early LM&SR coach fitted with Stones ventilators and carrying a central bodyside crest; before the 4-wheel vans the last vehicle that can be identified is a LM&SR ‘Stove R’ 6-wheeled guards van. No. 70027 had just been transferred from Cardiff Canton to Aston shed in Birmingham after completion of a Heavy General repair at Swindon in September 1961. What an absolutely first class shot, with the crisp exhaust contrasting with the darker sky, and the light just right for our lucky cameraman. The footplate crew seem to have spotted the camera, and Rising Star looks at its best, freshly out of Swindon as the earlier helpful indicate, and with its nameplates still intact ! I feel the appearance of the engine is unfortunately marred, however, by those dreadful hand holds in the smoke deflectors, so evident in this view, but fitted to replace the original hand rails following the accident and derailment near Didcot which was in part attributed to such handrails impairing the driver's forward visibility. Cardiff Canton had been the original home of this engine, in company with four of its sisters, the engines proving themselves to be well liked and reliable with the footplate men at that establishment, but as work on the principal express rosters between Cardiff and Paddington dried up they were transferred to the Midland Region, as we see here, Winwick being on the Midland Region main line to the north of Crewe. Even the smokebox door numberplate, central handles, hinges and smoke deflector brackets seem to have been given special treatment for some unknown reason. Paul Underwood adds With the demise of cleaners in the 60s apprentices tried to make these locos look better.