GWR Castle 4-6-0 No 7031 Cromwell's Castle with an excursion passing Reading West on 28 April 1957.

Peter Kerslake says "Just a short distance from the major junction with the Bristol main line and a favourite location for local cameraman M.W.Early at Reading West Laira's 7031 'Cromwell's Castle' heads westwards past a pair of watchful enthusiasts perched on a convenient fence in this view from April of 1957.
Constructed at Swindon in June of 1950 and sent to Old Oak Common 7031 spent time at Plymouth's Laira depot later moving to Swindon depot in September of 1959 and then to Worcester in March of 1962 from where it was condemned in July of 1963, ending its days at Cashmores the following June".

Photo: J. Head / Rail Archive Stephenson