First ‘40’ to Plymouth

WITH reference to your request for information of Class 40 locomotives in the West of England (February issue), I enclose a photograph of my notebook for October 9, 1962 that shows No. D336 as returning north, which seems to support the fact that it was quoted as going to Plymouth the previous day. It is shown elsewhere as going to Plymouth on the 11.30 from Liverpool to Plymouth or the 12.05 Manchester Piccadilly to Plymouth, which could be both correct if the two trains joined at some point, as they did in those days. The suggestions that it was to test the new Laira washing plant or for testing on the South Devon Banks would seem to be highly unlikely. If either was correct, it would surely be an all-day event and the locomotive would not have been released in time to go north the same day. David Hunt By email