Cheltenham - Paddington express at Naas Crossing, south of Gloucester
Introduction
The photograph on this page of Cheltenham - Paddington express at Naas Crossing, south of Gloucester by Ben Brooksbank as part of the Geograph project.
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Cheltenham - Paddington express at Naas Crossing, south of Gloucester
Image: © Ben Brooksbank Taken: 13 Aug 1949
View northward, towards Tuffley Junction, Gloucester, Cheltenham etc.; ex-GWR Swindon - Gloucester/Cheltenham and South Wales main line: the ex-Midland Birmingham - Bristol main line is on the left. The piloting engine, which probably worked only to Swindon, is 'Star' 4-6-0 No. 4022, which started life in 1909 as 'King William', was renamed 'Belgian Monarch' in 1927 but, along with other de-throned Monarchs, lost its name in 1940; the 'Star' class locomotives were Churchward's principal express engines until the advent of Collett's 'Castles' in the 1920's; 4022 was withdrawn in 2/52. The train engine here was Gloucester's No. 4079 'Pendennis Castle', which had excelled itself in the 1925 Locomotive Exchanges - and needed to be a good engine for the 'Cheltenham Flyer' - once the 'Fastest Train in the World'; it lasted in service until 5/64 and is preserved at the Didcot Railway Centre.
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Image Location
Latitude
51.812372
Longitude
-2.261053