A trip to Didcot in Oxfordshire for a steam day at the Great Western Railway Centre. The last time I was here was for the re-introduction into service of the magnificent ‘King class’ King Edward II, but today this locomotive was only on static display in the yard.
The working engine on the main line today was the 2-6-2T No 4144, a representative of the type of engines seen both pre and post WWII on GWR suburban lines.
The engine on the branch line was 0-6-0T pannier shunting engine.
In the yard Phantom was engaged in a series of shunting manoeuvres.
After this I spent sometime looking around the museum and the other displays that tell the history of Didcot and the GWR, which was very interesting. One photo which caught my attention was off a group of young train-spotters happily sitting on a platform edge dangling their legs over the edge. I could not imagine what would happen if someone did that today!
As I left the centre 4144 had joined King Edward II on the engine shed yard.
A very pleasant way to spend a few hours.