GWR Castle class 4-6-0 No 5000 Launceston Castle on arrival at Euston with an up express during trials on the West Coast main line in Autumn 1926. Note that horses still provided motive power for at least some taxis.
Peter Kerslake says "An immaculate 5000 has drawn a crowd of uniformed railway staff with one chap in the middle also having managed to get in and be recorded for posterity as well!
Loaned by the Great Western to the L.M.S. in the autumn of 1926 immediately following itsconstruction at Swindon in September of that year 5000 impressed those in authority at Euston with its sparkling performance and low appetite for coal. It would lead to the building of the Royal Scot 4-6-0s the following year following the abandonment of Fowler's proposal to build Compound Pacifics for the LMS express passenger work.
Returned to service on the GWR, "Launceston Castle" was one of the class which made a name for themselves working the "Cheltenham Spa Express" between Gloucester and Paddington in the forthcoming years."
Photo: Rail Archive Stephenson