GWR Castle class 4-6-0 No 5069 Isambard Kingdom Brunel approaches Bittaford Platform with the 7.30am Penzance to Manchester on July 6, 1955.
Peter Kerslake says "A wave from the driver of Laira shed's 5069 as they cross the main A38 trunk road between Plymouth and Exetet. The fellow with the stencils held at Laira has done his usual best using them to display a neat Reporting Number whilst the fireman appears to be topping up the fire.
I think it was this early morning service which included the through coach for Glasgow which was detached at Crewe and included in the northbound "Mid Day Scot" making it the longest through coach working on the rail network at that time.
The line here skirts the southern edge of Dartmoor before climbing to Wrangaton and Rattery tunnel from where it then drops down into Totnes and with nine coaches and no pilot engine 5069 is at the limit of the loading between here and Newton Abbot."
Photo: John Head/Rail Archive Stephenson