GWR Manor 4-6-0 No 7814 Fringford Manor pilots 6000 King George V with the 10.40am from Paddington climbing Rattery bank on 10 July 1955. The stock is entirely of GWR origin without a single BR Mark 1.

Peter Kerslake says "Climbing away from Totnes at the foot of Rattery bank Laira's 7814, a regular on such piloting duties, has been added at Newton Abbot to assist the "King" down to Plymouth, the gradient here 203 miles from Paddinton being a one in 66/71 steepening to a one in 46 at its worst a mile or so ahead, the 12 coach load exceeding the ten coach maximum for an unassisted "King" over Dainton, Rattery and Hemerdon banks.
There's no steam losses from either engine, neither of which seem to be working very hard, but it's July and probably a warm day!"

Photo: J. Head / Rail Archive Stephenson