Late days for steamers with their scrapping having reached alarming proportions

A 'Nelson' in full flight. This morning working to Salisbury became a regular turn for redundant Lord Nelsons during the summer of 1961. It did not last long. Neither did the remaining Nelsons.

In the days when even the "guv'ner" worked a seven day week on the railway, The Station Master chats with a member of his staff as 'Great Central' waits for the off. No 'Streaks' to be seen on this day, and none at all after the arrival of the 'Deltics.'

They were still trying to cure the problem of drifting smoke on the 'Spams' even at this late date. 'Anti - Aircraft Command' with modification to the smokebox cowling

'King Arthur' in 1960. Deplorable condition, but stout hearted enough to be found regularly assigned and continually worked hard, into the following summer of 1961. 'King Arthur' was withdrawn in July 1961 and languished in the scrap lines at Eastleigh for a while. He was considered for preservation but was finally cut up in October 1961.

A poor shot of a mighty (but grubby) GWR King, No. 6019 King Henry V. Here illustrating how the prestige of the flamboyant Western Region was also showing signs of strain as 1959 progressed. Ealing Broadway 6/6/1959.

The 'Schools' did not suit mixed traffic black and were rightly restored to Express Passenger Green, at least most of them were. Some went to the scrapyard still in black livery, although by 1959 they all looked the same under the grime.

1964 now and a roll of good old ILFORD colour film instead of my usual FP4. The class five, anonymous again after the removal of her nameplates, simmers in the spring sunshine at Basingstoke