A nice close up shot of 7023, "Penrice Castle", formerly a Cardiff Canton shedded engine until 1960 when, as can be seen here from her shedplate, she was transferred to 85A, Worcester.
This is undoubtably an express from the Hereford and Worcester line arriving at Paddington and captured on film from that splendid vantage point at the end of platforms eight and nine .
One of the last "Castles" to remain in service 7023 was a member of the batch transferred to Oxley shed at Wolverhampton in June of 1964 solely for the purpose of working the Saturday Summer Service Specials from the Midlands to the Westcountry, running as far as Bristol and back, and she was withdrawn from Oxley in February of 1965.
7023 " Penrice Castle " was one of the remaining " Castles " in service in early 1964 selected to take part in a series of evaluation and test runs between Paddington and Worcester in order to choose the best eight of the class to work stages of the Special planned for the 9th . May , 1964 down to Plymouth from Paddington and back.
Placed fifth on that list , on the day in question 7023 was held as " Standby " engine at Bristol to cover for 5054 , " Earl of Ducie " , booked for the final leg of the run from Temple Meads to Paddington , should that engine fail on Bath Road shed , but happily it did not do so !