12th Jan 1987

Here are three early images of mine, scanned from slide. This Ruston Hornsby 0-4-0 shunter carried a plate with works number 3079 and which claimed it was built in 1964. At least, that is what I recorded at the time, although I believe it was actually built in 1951 under works number 304470. It originally worked at Windsor Street Gas Works, Birmingham, before moving to Chard Junction. The loco was preserved and it is currently located at the Mid Suffolk Light Railway, near Stowmarket, now painted black and carrying the name 'Alston'.

It is seen here stabled with a short rake of Milk Marketing Board TMV 6-wheeled milk tanks. Apart from a very brief spell working emergency milk trains to none other than Stowmarket, these tank wagons were disused for the best part of their time here, and were eventually scrapped.