This photo shows what is believed to be the following Worcester shed staff (all from left to right):
On the loco : Barry Rainsford (L); Nick (Tony) De Capa (M); Chris Wilkinson (R)
To the left of the three men in ties are: (1L); (2L); (3L); (4L); (5L); Frank Walters (loco fitter) who was a real character who could site and tell tales all day about how he kept the railway running (6L); Ken Alford (shed supervisor) who was on permanent shed duties to ill health; (7L); (8L):
Three men in ties are: Noel Higgins (shed foreman) a gentleman of the old school who always wore a smart three piece suit and highly polished shoes; Fred Bennett (shed foreman) who came from a 'railway family' and who had a brother who was manager of the fitting shop; Fred A .Cole (shedmaster) who took over from Mr Cureton in 1963.
To the right of the men in ties are: (1R); Ernie Hicks?; Roy Griffiths (driver) (3R); Sid Godrey (fitter); (5R); possibly Ken Holt - a fireman; (6R); Don Fryer (fitter); 'Plonker' Pugh who used to drive the steam cranes around the shed are collecting ash from the fire pits but for whom we have no first name yet; (8R); (9R); Eric Atkinson (boilerman).;
This image shows a lot of shed staff standing in front of what appears to be a 'Castle' class 4-6-0 locomotive outside the back of the Goods Engine shed at Worcester.
Brian Parsons who kindly provided the photograph for use on this site provides the following information:
I wondered if you would be interested in this photo of staff at Worcester shed. It was taken in October 1964 by a Rail News reporter who was doing a feature on the depot. Some years ago I sent you another photo, which you’ve posted on your site, of myself and other engine cleaners, and which was taken on the same day as this one.
Can anyone put more names to faces?
Robert Pritchard asserts that he believs the locomotive to be No.7005 ' Sir Edward Elgar' but Chris Harris suggests possibly No.7002 'Devizes Castle' as he recalls seeing in in this position after withdrawal. He comments that: 'No.7002 was originally due for withdrawal at the start of the summer time table and pre-sold to Cashmores of Great Bridge. However, owing to the unreliability of the Hymeks it was hired from the scrap man, together with several of her sisters at a reputed cost of £100 per week, for the rest of the summer service. It was at the end of this stay of execution that the loco was placed at the rear of the goods shed before departing for ever'. MIAC member Roger Lamb comments that he has heard this story about locos being hired from Cashmore's in 1964 previously but can provide no definitive evidence of which locos were hired nor for what period of time. Andrew Smith notes that the 'Railway' Observer' gives a withdrawal date of 3/1964 for No.7002 and a sale to Cashmore's is recorded in June 1964.
A MIAC member, Adrian Booth, who visited Worcester Engine Sheds on 12th July 1964 noted all four remaining Worcester cased 'Castles' Nos.5054, 7005, 7013, 7022 and 7025 on shed but no sign of No.7002 or any other withdrawn 'Castles'. Nos.5054 and 7022 were transferred to Gloucester at ht end of the summer timetable and Nos.7005 and 7025 withdrawn. Nos.5042, 7013 and 7034 were at the works.
A further note in the 'Railway Observer states that on 6/10/64 (just before this photograph was taken the Nos.5000, 5054, 7005 and 7025 were noted out of use at Worcester with all nameplates removed. No.5000 can probably be ruled out as it was always in appalling external condition in 1964 and in any event a photo of it on Worcester shed in November 1964 has it the other way round to the loco in the photo (Andrew Smith).
It might help identity if anyone can provide details or sightings of any duties the 'Castles' had between the last recorded use of No.5054 on a railtour on 12/7/1964 and withdrawal at the end of the summer timetable please?
Thanks to Brian Parsons for the photo; Mick Rock and Chris Higgins for identification and additional notes.
Click here for more from the Brian Parsons Photograph Collection.