50 years ago this weekend, two steam-hauled special trains
marked the end of the GWR through route from London Paddington to Birkenhead
Woodside, via Birmingham Snow Hill, Wolverhampton Low Level, Shrewsbury and
Chester, although the Castles themselves had long been replaced by Western
diesels. On 4/3/67, we were at Chester to witness the event and these are some
of the photos that I took on that day.
Stanier Class 4 2-6-4 tank No. 42613 simmers in the bay
platform at Chester General station. Paddington expresses reversed here before
completing their journey to Birkenhead. The ex-LMS tanks often putting in
spirited performances on the final Wirral section. These two platform roads had
been the preserve of services arriving on the ex-GWR lines into Chester. By
this time, the central locomotive release line had already been taken out.
Castle
Class No. 7029 Clun Castle stands at Chester General station after arrival with
one of the special trains.
Castle Class No. 4079 Pendennis Castle receives visitors on
Chester sheds.
Former Crosti-boilered Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 No. 92026
pulls away from Chester General station with one of the special trains.
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