Great Western Railway designed Collett 'Castle' class 4-6-0 No. 7029 'Clun Castle'. Built at Swindon in May 1950, withdrawn in December 1965 and preserved.

The late Paul Claxton was a wonderful photographer and I am privileged to have a good number of his near perfect negatives. His composition, exposure and developing skills (and a top class camera) make his images a joy to work with.

This is ‘Clun Castle’ climbing Gresford bank near Ruabon on 5th March 1967
Ian Allan ran ‘The Birkenhead Flyer’ rail tour & The 'Zulu' rail tour (2 separate trains) on 4th March 1967 between Paddington and Birkenhead to commemorate the last through working from Paddington to Birkenhead.

Another rail tour took place on the following day, again split into two trains. This was the Stephenson Locomotive Society (Midland Area) Farewell to the G.W.R. Birmingham - Birkenhead Service, again utilising No 7029 from Birkenhead to Birmingham Snow Hill on the second train. Black Five No 44680 took the first (A) train back to Birmingham earlier in the day. On the 'Zulu' on 4th March No 7029 ran with a headboard throughout but on the Farewell to the G.W.R. Birmingham - Birkenhead Service on 5th March it didn't and therefore this is what we see here.

On the 26th February the LCGB had ran a 'Severn & Dee' rail tour also hauled by No. 7029 but this ran 'down' between Wolverhampton, Salop and Chester only. The photograph here shows her climbing Gresford in the opposite 'up' direction so it cannot be that train as originally thought.

© Steve Armitage Archive