GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Olton Station: gwro1585

British Railways 4-6-0 40xx ‘Castle’ class No 7008 ‘Swansea Castle’ steams away from the Down Relief platform at Olton station at 8:53 a.m. on Saturday 9th September 1963 with a Leamington to Birmingham Snow Hill passenger service. Note that the Home signal is clear, but the distant signal is still indicating danger. The train stock comprises six ex Great Western Railway corridor coaches in maroon livery. No 7008 ‘Swansea Castle’ was built at Swindon Works in May 1948 as the first locomotive in Lot 387. These were the first Castle class locomotives to be built after nationalisation, but not the last for British Railways continued to build Castle class locomotives until 1950. Following the successful improvements with the double chimneys on the King class, these were also fitted to the Castle class from May 1956. No 7008 received a double chimney in June 1959. No 7008 was withdrawn in September 1964 and purchased for scrap by Birds (Swansea) Ltd.

Robert Ferris

back