The wholesale transfer of " Britannias " to the Midland Region from both Western and Eastern Region Depots from late 1961 granted a reprieve from their possible early withdrawal , especially those from the Eastern Region , made redundant and lying out of use at March Motive Power Depot .
70023 , formerly " Venus " had been one of the five of her class allocated to Old Oak Common on the Western Region from 1953 , later being sent down to Cardiff Canton in February pf 1957 before heading to the Midland Region at Carlisle Kingmoor in September of 1961 .
With withdrawal of the Midland Region's express locomotives taking place at about the same time the "Britannias " were in effect replacements for the " Duchesses " and " Princess Royals " and were used on similar duties as those more powerful Midland designs .
" Venus " is seen here running light befor being withdrawn in the December of 1967