What a lovely shot of Shrewsbury's 5097 , " Sarum Castle " , looking to be in fine condition as she pauses at Exeter St. Davids with what my book says is the morning Liverpool to Plymouth express. Doubtless having taken this train over from a Midland Region engine at her home at Shrewsbury 5097 has , rather unusually , worked through Bristol but she will probably come off at Newton Abbot although she seems to have plenty of coal left in the tender . One of the footplate crew has spotted the photographer !
Further research shows me that it was regular practice for both Shrewsbury and Newton Abbot engines to work right through between those two locations in both directions on the " North to West " and return duties , with the footplate crews working what was known as a " Double Home " duty with the Newton Abbot men staying overnight at Shrewsbury whilst the Shrewsbury crews did the same at Newton Abbot.
The crews would return home on the same engine the following day , and whilst Newton Abbot Motive Power Depot regularly rostered one of their well maintained " Castles " on these duties , at Shrewsbury their footplate men could find one of their splendid " Castles " or an equally well looked after Shrewsbury " County " as being their engine for this two day duty.