Ex-Great Western Railway Collett 'Castle' class 4-6-0 No. 7000 'Viscount Portal', Built at Swindon in May 1946 and withdrawn in Dec. 1963. It seems astonishing that Collett's 'Castle' class should have been built across a time span of 27 years (1923-1950). There is no other British contender of 4-6-0 that comes remotely close. Here is 7000 leaving Totnes in July 1957. The distinctive chimney of 'Daws Creameries' is behind, the site of one of Brunel's doomed 'atmospheric railway' engine houses built in 1848.

Peter Kerslake adds "Newton Abbot had eleven Castles on its allocation in the mid 1950s, used regularly on Top Link duties to Shrewsbury and Paddingto, However, 7000 was working home from Plymouth on a secondary passenger service."


© Ken Widd-SA Collection