Description

The Great Western and its nationalised successor is a vast subject and the mission to explore previously untapped topics within this spectrum continues in Issue No. 10. Services to the more northerly reaches of the GWR network are subjected to an extended review simply yet appropriately titled ‘Paddington to Birkenhead’.
A personal account of working in administration at Paddington provides an insight into the diverse ‘back room’ activities that had to be managed effectively to keep a large and complex organisation running smoothly in every respect.

On the motive power front, there is a colour review of the ubiquitous, unglamorous diesel shunter that for so long has been feature of the post-war railway but whose antecedents dated from GWR of the 1930s. Following the themes of shunters and ubiquity, Part 2 of the Pannier Story describes the purpose-built larger 0-6-0STs that emanated from Wolverhampton works and which in due course evolved into the early members of the vast pannier tank fleet.

More unusual facets of motive cover American engines in South Wales and how ancient 0-4-0ST No. 92 found its way on to the Swindon Test Plant in 1908. On more familiar ground, there is a pictorial feature which displays previously unpublished photographs that failed to make it into last year’s Castle Class Centenary Special Issue, and another landmark anniversary is also remembered – when Driver Moses let it rip down Wellington bank 120 years ago.

To many admirers the GWR was known as the “The Old Company” until that gloomy Final General Meeting in early 1948. We include an account of how Felix Pole and his team secured that affectionate nickname a quarter of a century earlier.

Contents
Introduction
The Pannier Story: Part 2 – Wolverhampton Large Locomotives
From the Archives of R C Riley: The 93xx Moguls
Keeping the GWR On Track by Jim Horsnell
Experimental Motive Power: No. 92 & Siemens
City of Truro: A Notable Anniversary of ‘That’ Run
Modern Traction: Diesel Shunters in Colour
Book Review
How the Great Western Kept Its Name
From the Archives: Americans at Barry (Class K)
Paddington to Birkenhead by Freddie Huxtable
Signalman’s Error at Twyford
Castle Portraits
The Great Western Trust (GWT) – Bulletin No.9
The Guard’s Compartment

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