Paddington & Old Oak steam memories, Set BW1 10 6x4 Black+White Prints
We open with a classic elevated view of Paddington from the footbridge under the train shed, judging by the taxi on the right it is early twenties at latest, and see the ornate gaslamp in centre view! Pannier tank 8764 is seen with Paddington goods depot as a backdrop. 4954 Plaish Hall arrives with an express in carmine+cream in the fifties. The quaint roof line of Paddington goods was because the bulding was slightly cut back during the passenger station rebuild in 1932-34. Until that rebuild, departures were controlled from a wooden box which also had a strange outline to fit the peculiarities of the site. 7906 Fron Hall backs out of Paddington in the 1950s. Because of land values, the loco depot was six miles out of Paddington at Old Oak Common. Star 460, 4042 Prince Albert, still with inside steam pipes, is seen with Old Oak’s four bay water tank as a backdrop in the 1930s. Fire irons rest against the cab of 2934 Butleigh Court, also before the war. 5009 Shrewsbury Castle is immaculate as GW express engines tended to be, Fire irons lean against the cab of 6023 King Henry III of 1930, which suggests a just-completed trip. Inside the round house, 634 was one of twelve Wolverhampton 633 class 0-6-0Ts, most of which had condensing gear get to work onto the Met lines. She was withdrawn in March 1934, all the condensing engines retaining open cabs to the end. A copy of these notes accompanies the set. These views are copyright; Reproduction is prohibited without our prior written permission.
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Paddington & Old Oak steam memories, Set BW2 10 6x4 Black+White Prints
We open with Stafford Road’s 6004 King George III having just arrived in Platform 10 in the early fifties. Until her withdrawal in 1932, County Tank 2233 was used on the London suburban services ex Paddington. All had gone by 1934. No 4090 Dorchester Castle backs into Paddington for a departure after being fitted with a double chimney in April 1957. The old (pre 1930s) arrivals signal box was on a cramped location with a poor view due to retaining walls and bridge abutments, 7037 Swindon was the last Castle built and was named in honour of Swindon’s jubilee as a Borough. Allocated to Swindon, it is backing out after arriving on the 07.50am Cardiff-Paddington. 4071 Cleeve Abbey is seen in ‘Star’ format at Old Oak before her 1938 rebuild as a Castle when she became 5091. Saint 460, 2939 Broome Court is also alongside the coal house/tank house at Old Oak in the 1930s. Old Oak had four separate turntables and access to the rear two shed was via lines which entered the side wall of the depot at an angle. Former, Star4032 Queen Alexandra is on the entrance road 633 class condensing tank 643, with open cab, is next to the traverse which provided access to the repair shops at Old Oak. The ‘Metro’ tanks were built between 1869 and 1899, and ‘Met’ 240T No 3568, with closed cab, is in the roundhouse at Old Oak in the 1930s. These views are copyright; Reproduction is prohibited without our prior written permission.
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Paddington & Old Oak steam memories, Set BW3 10 6x4 Black+White Prints
A straight-frame 440 makes ready to depart from Platform 1 at Paddington at about 2.35pm in 1910. Large ‘prairie’ 262T 6123 is at the statin throat in the 1950s. We depicted Cleeve Abbey as a Star in Set BW-2; Here is the ame engine rebuilt as a Castle and see in the early fifties. We take a look at tbe Arrivals signal box and some of the offices at Paddington with the GWR goods depot in thr background at the start of the 1930s. 5003, Lulworth Castle is seen at Old Oak after it received a 4000 gallon tender in 1927. Star class 460 No 4072, Tresco Abbey of 1923 was one of ten Stars rebuilt as Castles in 1937-40 and became 5092 in 1938, It is next to the coal stage at Old Oak. 4902, Aldenham Hall is also near the coal stage in the 1930s. The pioneer ‘Star’ No 40, later 4000, of 1906 was rebuilt as a Castle in 1929 and ran until 1957. It is seen in its Catle guise at Old Oak. Open Cab Dean 2021 class No 2038 is seen at Old Oak after rebuilding as a pannier tank in 1927 snd prior to reciving an enclosed cab. Unlike ‘Metro’ tank 3568 in set BW-2 sister engine 3570, also in the round house at Old Oak, still has an open cab giving us a superb view of the backhead and of the way the tarpaulin was secured to the front spectacle plate when not in use. These views are copyright; Reproduction is prohibited without our prior written permission.