Interest in GM did not begin with BR, in 1945 Crompton-Parkinson suggested an arrangement for GM to supply diesels. The Treasury threatened in response ‘that they would oppose any proposal for the substantial changeover of main line railways in this country to oil-fired engines’.

As enthusiasts clamber about on the four foot, T. B. Owen catches J69/1 E8619 with steam rocketing from its valves at North Woolwich with the RCTS London Branch East London No.1 Railtour on 14 April 1951. It'd been Liverpool Street pilot since January 1948 & was very much a pet!

Shot by W. H. G. Boot immersed in the gloom of Top Shed, W1 60700 sits cold at its homeshed of Kings Cross in an old coat of Garter Blue in May 1951. With rather stark transfers placed over its old LNER lettering in June 1948, it would soon lose such shades in favor of Brunswick.

Getting on in years but still quite smart, Pickersgill D41 62246 is shot by T. B. Owen at Keith Shed on 29 May 1950. Built by Neilson in September 1897, 62246 would be withdrawn in just over a year's time - bringing to a close a career just short of 54 years on 22 August 1951.

Under layers of grime still carrying apple green, D11/2 62677 Edie Ochiltree is caught on shed at Haymarket by T. B. Owen in June 1952. 62677 was one of 16 D11s that received Cowlairs' take on apple green & a glimpse of what to come can be seen in front with one already in black.

In the halflight of Prosser's Train Shed with some rather aged teaks, A1/1 60113 Great Northern makes a grand sight at York with the GNR Centenary Express on 16 July 1950. Organized by George Lake, 60113 sported a headboard with the visage of Edmund Denison, the 1st GNR chairman.

Requisitioned from the LMS, the Sulzer-engined AW shunter was unknown to WD fitters. In service it was a similar tale; at Martin Mill one curiously shut down on a heavy train & when another was brought to assist, it too shut down. Only then they realized they'd overload switches!

On the LMR, Kingsley spent a lengthy career as re-railing instructor but often this didn't pan out. Kalla-Bishop recalls once trying to derail it but with every attempt it deftly shoved & skipped over the sleepers put in place! After 5 tries they managed to derail only the bogie.

Bedecked in fitting regalia, Merchant Navy 35027 Port Line awaits to depart for Dover with the Golden Arrow from Victoria in 1952. It lacked a name for quite some time; from outshopping until a ceremony led by W. Donald, Port Line Chairman, at Southampton Docks in April 1950.

Still unlined yet with some rather striking whitewalls, Stephen C. Townroe catches the brand new Leader at Eastleigh Works in June 1949. 36001 had only seen the light of day for the first time on the 21st, & although the No.1 Bogie needed tending to, early tests proved fruitful.

While the crew pose & evidently someone else fills up the tender, Merchant Navy 35015 Rotterdam Lloyd sits at Branksome after having taken the Down Bournemouth Belle on 23rd August 1952. Rebuilt with a new cab in June 1949, 35015 was rostered as a Nine Elms engine at this time.

Being prepared for the application of numbering & a rather shortlived Cycling Lion, 36001 is shot by Stephen C. Townroe being smartened up for inspection at Eastleigh in June 1949. Shadowed by K 32343 from Brighton via Chichester, the Leader had arrived at Eastleigh on the 25th.

Looking as though it'd hadn't been seen to since Nationalization, Drummond S11 30403 hisses steam in a forlorn manner at Bournemouth in November 1950. Playing second fiddle to the T9s its whole life, during WW2 30403 had been loaned to the LMS for work on the Somerset & Dorset.

Drawn out after years of store at Crewe, Works Shunters 3014 & 3015, in full LNWR garb, were sent to the S&M for the Kinnerley ammunition stores sidings in July 1942. The sidings proved too long for their boilers to cope & their brakes were so weak many shed doors were smashed!

Having been thrashed in Tunisia & Algeria, by the time the Dean Goods reached Italy they were in a right state. With 70172, its superheater elements leaked so much they were blanked off & 70171's motion was so worn that even with the reverser open, it'd go the opposite direction!

With its rake of elderly wagons in no better condition than it, O4/3 63870 creaks through Hyde Junction in 1952. Relegated to unfitted goods due to its lack of a vacuum brake, 63870 had once been a ROD engine, albeit one which had been ordered in Autumn 1918 to sustain industry.

Thompson corners & Gresley curves meet at Hadley Wood as Thompson B1 61207 & B17/6 61657 Doncaster Rovers double-head a rather long service, carrying some old teaks, in 1951. Built as a B17/4 & still with its signature Group Standard 61657 received a D100A boiler in October 1950.

A bit bedraggled but younger than it looked, J6 64261 sits cold a fair bit away from its homeshed of Doncaster at Leicester Belgrave Road Shed in 1950. Having rolled out of Doncaster Works just over thirty years prior in December 1919, 64261 hadn't a decade left of service in it.

King Edward Bridge only complementing the scene, E. Hunt captures a evocative view of Peppercorn A1 60157 at Newcastle in 1950. The swirling steam envelopes the new engine, yet not enough that one wouldn't be able to notice its lack of a nameplate - in November 1951 was it named.

BR Blue doing its Gresley & Thompson marriage justice, A1/1 60113 Great Northern rests York Shed before returning with the 16 July 1950 GNR Centenary Express. Fate had a sense of humor: at Selby 60113 destroyed the crossing gates & the driver was asked to autograph the splinters!