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This interesting old photograph was taken on 11th April 1964 by Derek Parsons and show two of Worcester's 'Castle' Class locomotives heading towards Worcester, presumably after having deputised for diesels in express passenger trains to Paddington. At the front is No.7023 'Penrice Castle' and beyond is No.7005 'Sir Edward Elgar'.
This is ex GWR 4-6-0 'Modified Hall' class No.6970 'Whaddon Hall' of Oxford Shed on 18th May 1963. The locomotive's run down appearance is typical of this era but the locomotive was not withdrawn until June 1964 and was then sent to South Wales for scrap. It is seen arriving at Honeybourne Station on a local train. During World War 2, Whaddon Hall near Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire was once the location for a secret communications centre housing staff from Bletchley Park. (Photograph by Derek Parsons.)
This is the once familiar sight of Worcester based 'Castle' class 4-6-0 No.7027 'Thornbury Castle' arriving at Honeybourne on a down express train. Thornbury Castle is at Thornbury, Gloucestershire and dates back to the 16th century. It is now a hotel. The photograph was taken by Derek Parsons on 11th May 1963.
Click here for more photographs from the Derek Parsons Collection