Cheltenham - London express nearing Standish Junction. View northward, towards Gloucester, Cheltenham etc. The 3.50pm Cheltenham St James - Paddington via Swindon had reversed at Gloucester and is proceeding to Paddington with BR Standard 'Britannia' 7MT 4-6-2 No. 70017 'Arrow' (built 7/51, withdrawn 9/66).

Peter Kerslake adds "Just two months old at the date of this view 70017 " Arrow " had been newly delivered to Old Oak Common in June of 1951 and is seen here working back to Paddington nearing Standish Junction to the south of Gloucester.
The climb of Sapperton bank is ahead , and the two lines on the left are the Midland Region's tracks running betwen Bristol and Birmingham , the Western Region's lines to and from Swindon and beyond being on the right.
When the Southern Region was having problems with some of its " Merchant Navy " class in May of 1953 " Arrow " was drafted to Salisbury for just a month , returning home to Old Oak and later being transferred to Cardiff Canton in December of 1956 prior to moving to Kentish Town on the Midland Region in June of 1958 "