This photograph is the only 'Castle' class locomotive that was at Worcester on the day of this visit. Worcester's last remaining 'Castles' had been withdrawn or transferred away in the autumn of 1964 and by this time the few remaining examples were based at Gloucester. No.7034 'Ince Castle' was never a Worcester loco but was a regular visitor until withdrawal at the end of June 1965. Also in this photograph is No.6869 'Resolven Grange', a 'Grange' class locomotive.
Photograph taken by Andrew Smith.
Andy Kemeys adds "As you note it was a Gloucester engine at the time and as I recall, she had been for some years, until the end of steam on the London expresses, a regular on the Cheltenham Spa express, leaving at 8.20am. I still have a very clear recollection of 7034 with the express nameboard, pulling hard from the station, coming towards me by Horton Road gates on a cold morning and then on round the curve past the Foundry and wagon repair depot towards Stroud. But that is not why I write.
After June 1965 and before, withdrawn 85B engines were often put in a small yard behind the shed at Horton Road, between Great Western Road and the access road in to the shed proper. You could get there without passing the Foreman's Office! So, after 7034 was withdrawn, she was put there, behind 5017 (I think). So myself and a then friend decided to have a 'look round' in the cab of 7034. During the course of this, a small notice, about 3" x 2", roughly stamped on to thin steel plate and fixed with wire to the steam brake handle ( I think), 'fell' into my hand as a keepsake. It says: 'RESTRICTED WORCESTER FREIGHT ONLY' - were they afraid to let her out of their sight where anyone in authority might ask an awkward question?. My guess is that 7034 had this very notice in the cab when you took the picture of 7034 & 6869! I still have the little notice pinned to the beam over my fireplace. If you wish, I would be happy to photograph it and send you a copy if you would like me to. I would be happy for it to be published too, were it perhaps not too minor a thing to be worth even the webspace.
We did used to wonder at the time if Gloucester & Worcester didn't do their best to keep some Castles going up until the last, as there seemed no good reason to keep such 'unsuitable' engines doing the things they did. 7034 even had a new looking set of centre driving wheels late in the day although it did not prevent the eventual end. In those days, even a short reprieve seemed worth it. I also remember Clun Castle doing all sorts of minor things around Gloucester that a Pannier tank might have been more sensibly used on. And, once, just before it closed and maybe only a few days before the end of steam, Clun Castle was used on local trains between Gloucester and Cheltenham, St James so, for the return journey, she was running tender first!"
Andy Kemeys