Hi Col.
I believe that extract from Wiki has probably answered any remaining questions. Many thanks, and duly added to the data for the photo.
Also, Simon, further detail on the 9F and also chapter and verse for the Hall. Thanks for that. In view of your comments I suspect that the Hall may simply have worked to Swindon and will be returning home soon. However, it's clearly in the Works yard rather than the shed with those tenders in the background. Thanks for the additional info.
Two for today, obviously parked behind one another and not the most inspiring of locations (unless you were there at the time!) with not a huge amount of detail on which we can pick up. "Swindon Works. 19th October 1957." and it's a 72XX 2-8-2T with the Castle in the next photo immediately in front. As I've mentioned previously, I'm far from the greatest GWR fan but these 2-8-2 tanks were truly magnificent beasts. This number plate is difficult to read, so I checked "Shed Bash UK" to see what was in works at the time. On 1st September 7206 was in A Shop, - so was 92178 (see post above), described as "new". 7235 and 7251 were in the works yard but there's no indication whether this was pre or post overhaul. (Incidentally, six of the remaining TVR A Class were present, withdrawn in the yard, but not 373, although it was present in February 1958 with RR 35) There were no 72XX present in February 1958. Tim has a photo, yet to come, of 92185 in what I believe is A shop on 19th October so I think we can be pretty certain about the accuracy of his date.
In the absence of any confirmation of the identification of this loco no further info is possible.
Again "Swindon Works 19th October 1957" and this is easily identified as Castle 5044 Earl of Dunraven. This was an Old Oak Common loco at the time, then allocated to Swindon for a whole day! on 4th July 1960 before moving to Cardiff Canton on 5th July, to Neath in June 1961, then Cardiff Canton again in early July before withdrawal at the beginning of April 1962. It was something of a rarity at the time, going to Swindon for scrapping which happened in June the same year. Thanks to BR Database again for this info. It doesn't quite match with the SLS dates but the allocations do, as does the date of withdrawal.
There are some questions regarding the dates at works, though. The record shows the loco at Swindon for a Heavy General between 6th January and 14th February 1956, then 28th November to 16th January 1958 for a Heavy Intermediate but it was not officially there on 19th October 1957, and certainly not finished which the photo indicates is the case. Furthermore, on 26th September 1957 there was a boiler change and a tender change, and yet another tender change on 4th October 1958. (These are just snapshots from the available list of dates). I would have expected the record to show the loco in works for the boiler change, but it doesn't appear to have been there! Does anyone have any idea why this should be? Maybe that 26th September boiler change coincides with the date of Tim's photo a few weeks later, so was that a visit which never appeared on the loco's record card?
Brian
