Workbench

1: The rear of a slip coach for Reading being attached to a Paddington-bound train at Bristol Temple Meads in 1955. The centre window is a droplight, below which is the pedal-operated gong. The slip tail lamps, red beside white, indicate that this is the first (and in this case, only) slip. NEIL SPRINKS/CJL COLLECTION

2: One of the former slip coaches at Chard behind ‘4575’ 2‑6‑2T No. 5563 on April 28 1962. COLOUR RAIL

3: The rear of the main train, left, carries the double tail lamp, red over red, which will indicate to signalmen that the slip has been detached. The front of the slip coach carries a single white headlamp. NEIL SPRINKS/CJL COLLECTION

4: Up to three coaches could be slipped, two ordinary coaches being attached behind the slip coach. The last multiple slip, at Didcot from a Weston-supermare express, drops away from the main train as it approaches the station. The date is June 1960. J.A. COILEY/CJL COLLECTION

5: The Bicester slip, a Collett-era vehicle on this occasion, runs through the centre road at Bicester North in May 1960. It will be added to the front of the 4.34pm stopper to Wolverhampton. COLOUR RAIL

6: ‘54XX’ 0‑6‑0PT No. 5403 brings the slip coach off the Down ‘Cornish Riviera Express’ into Westbury station. The coach was slipped at Heywood Road Junction as the main train used the Westbury cut-off. BILL ASHCROFT/CJL COLLECTION