Peter Kerslake says "A splendid image of D816 "Eclipse" after having arrived at its destination here at the northern end of Exeter St. Davids with the 13.00 Waterloo to Exeter express in 1971 when members of the class were working the Southern Region main line.
The Southern Region duties began for the class in 1963 and lasted until 1971, D816 having entered service from new n the 17th. February of 1960, allocated to Laira but condemned from Newton Abbot in January of 1972 but then returning to Laira briefly for some reason before ending up at Swindon Works in August of 1972".