WAS 7027 AT TAUNTON?

I was interested in the undated and unrecorded location photograph showing Thornbury Castle along with No. 4920 Dumbleton Hall (SR504/5). I decided to embark on a little detective work.

Firstly, a close inspection of the ‘Hall’s’ shedplate definitely shows an 83 code, although it is difficult to read the letter underneath.

However, 4920’s shed allocation history shows that it was shedded at Taunton (83B), between June 1953 and late 1958. This is key because in the accompanying article, it states that No. 7027 was paired with a Hawksworth flat sided tender, which it clearly has in the image, for most of its first five years in service, which would have been from its entry into traffic in August 1949 through to approximately August 1954.

Furthermore, while it is very difficult to read the shedplate on the ‘Castle’, close inspection does seem to show the angled right hand side of the letter A under the number, which also fits in with the above dates because from January 1951 through to mid-1960, No. 7027 was allocated to Old Oak Common (81A). This information therefore almost certainly proves that the photograph was taken some time between June 1953, when Dumbleton Hall moved to Taunton, and August 1954 (or thereabouts) when ‘Thornbury’ lost its Hawksworth tender.

I believe the picture was taken on Taunton shed. An important detail bears this out: the row of buildings in the background and to the left of No. 7027. A very similar, if not identical, set of buildings to these can be seen in at least one shot of the depot that I have previously seen.

If it had hauled a train down from Paddington bound for either Minehead or Ilfracombe, this would have meant a change to a ‘Prairie’ or ‘Mogul’ at Taunton.

Further examination suggests yet another possibility; No. 7027 is carrying no headcode or lamps and does not appear to be in steam. On the running plate, just in front of the steam pipe, there appear to be a number of working parts and tools, so could it be that the engine had failed in service and gone to Taunton as the nearest depot to effect repairs? Keith Faulkner, Tamworth

COULD IT BE THAT THE ENGINE HAD FAILED AND GONE TO TAUNTON AS THE NEAREST DEPOT?