Vic Smith started his apprenticeship at Brush Electrical in August 1961 and one of the first things he did was to go and view the prototype diesel electric No.D0280 Falcon in the Erecting Shop. It was completed in September 1961, having been painted in the works at Loughborough. The locomotive is seen at Beeston with Overhead Line warning flashes under the Route Indicator, which it did not have when it first left Loughborough on 18th September 1961 and on its loaded test run (1T06), but by 6th February 1962 when it was photographed on the Lickey Incline it had the OHL flashes. To quote from Vic�s fellow Brush employee, George Toms in his book, Brush Diesel Locomotives 1940-78 �After Falcon emerged from Loughborough it underwent trials on British Railways London Midland and Eastern Regions, transferring to the Great Eastern lines during the early part of November 1961, and returning to the works several times for routine checks� and therefore this photograph was probably taken in late 1961.