...OR PLYMOUTH LAIRA?

I have a different idea when the photograph of Thornbury Castle and Dumbleton Hall was taken. I believe it was probably at Laira in the early 1950s.

This is substantiated by the ‘dead cat on a dartboard’ (as one friend described it) totem and the ‘pre-mod’ outside steam pipes (not the later curly type).

In 1950, No. 7027 was allocated to Laira (83D), supported by the 83D (probably) shed code on 4920. Further, it is my recollection the post-1956 insignia was rapidly applied to main line locos such as ‘Castles’ and ‘Kings’ and the older totem did not survive on such engines to 1959.

Thanks for a great magazine. Roger Holliday, Thornbury, Glos