Ex-Great Western Railway Collett '14xx' class 0-4-2 Tank No. 1439. Built at Swindon in Aug. 1934 and withdrawn in August 1957. Collett's '14xx' Tanks were the final development in a long line of GWR 0-4-2 Tanks dating back to the 1860s or earlier. They are perhaps the most highly regarded of their type and have come to typify the classic GWR branch line motive power. Here is 1439 on a very damp July 1957 day at Churston Station in Devon, with the Auto-Train for Brixham. I suggest the auto is collecting the van from the back of the Down train and will return to the Bay to collect the passengers who have been prevented from boarding during the shunting and left in the rain. The engine has no headlamp but not unknown on the Brixham line but may have had one when it did set off for Brixham.
