5049 has just been out-shopped from Swindon Works and waits to be reunited with its tender on August 22, 1961.

Peter Kerslake says "This is how Swindon's workforce turned out their finest following overhaul within the Works and 5049 "Earl of Plymouth" was at the date of this view housed at Bristol St.Philip's Marsh as the former main line locomotive depot at Bath Road had closed in September of 1960 just four months after 5049 went there from Newton Abbot.
During its earlier days when allocated to Plymouth's Laira depot 5049 was known by local enginemen as "The Undertaker", as a local funeral director named Earl carried on business in Plymouth as "Earl of Plymouth" !
Note the double chimney and mechanical lubricator, features which extended the lives of a number of the early "Castles" but not as long as they should have done".

Photo: Brian Stephenson