·  LMS  ·  GWR  ·  LNER  ·  Misc  ·  Stations  ·  What's New  ·  Video  ·  Guestbook  ·  About

GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

Birmingham Snow Hill - British Railways Period Locomotives: gwrbsh1250

Ex-GWR 4-6-0 Castle class No 5082 'Swordfish' is seen standing at Platform 7 whilst at the head of the up 'Cambrian Coast Express on 31st August 1957

Ex-GWR 4-6-0 Castle class No 5082 'Swordfish' is seen standing at Platform 7 whilst at the head of the up 'Cambrian Coast Express on 31st August 1957. Rebuilt at Swindon works from a Star Class locomotive in June 1939, No 5082 was initially named 'Powis Castle' and was allocated to Bath Road shed in Bristol. The locomotive had a long association with Bath Road shed in Bristol being recorded as being allocated there August 1950 and March 1959 before being allocated to Old Oak Common shed from where it was withdrawn in July 1962 to be scrapped in December 1962 by J Cashmore of Great Bridge. The locomotive was renamed 'Swordfish' in January 1941 in honour of the daring raid on the Italian fleet in Taranto. The attack was celebrated because on 11th November 1940 a group of brave naval aircrew flew from HMS Illustrious on twenty-one slow, outdated Swordfish biplanes (affectionately known as Stringbags) to attack and ultimately cripple much of the Italian Fleet in the heavily defended port of Taranto. The author's father, 'Chas Musson' was at the time a Petty Officer on board HMS Illustrious and helped prepare the aircraft for the attack.

back