Peter Kerslake says "My picture of Laira's 6017 shows it halted at Newton Abbot at the head of the heavily loaded 12 noon from Penzance to the North of England, the 3.45.p.m. " North Mail " from Plymouth.The leading mail T.P.O. and first coach will come off at Bristol, as will 6017 which will work on to Paddington from Bristol on an express later that same evening, probably working back home to Plymouth the following day. 6017's pilot engine over the banks from Plymouth has already come off and gone over to Newton Abbot shed and a couple of loco. inspectors are on the platform. With the introduction of the "Britannia's" they took over this working from the "Kings".
My picture illustrates clearly the first style of inside valve spindle covers, fitted to the earlier members of the class from when they were built, and later changed to a larger style of cover as and when some of the " Kings " received new front frames and cylinder blocks during overhaul at Swindon.
The first Laira " King " to be fitted with a double chimney, 6017 worked the Jubilee " Cornish Riviera " from Plymouth to Paddington on 1st July, 1954, complete with commemorative headboard, carried for that one day only by both 6017 and by 6018 which was rostered on the down " Riviera " from Paddington.
The mechanical lubricator can be seen behind the main steam pipe at the time of my picture, later to be moved to a forward position by Swindon as and when the " Kings " went through Works, as in this original position it restricted access for manual lubrication to the inside valve gear.
6017 was to remain at Laira until February 1959 when, due to the invading Diesels on the West of England main line, it was allocated to Stafford Road at Wolverhampton from where it was finally withdrawnin jjjJuly, 1962.