British Railways Standard 5MT 73125 fitted with Caprotti valve gear at Patricroft Manchester the depot only weeks away from closure. Their huge coal hopper looms large in the background. Beyond that one of the first railways in the country the Liverpool to Manchester line famous for the Rocket which ran along here during the trials of 1825 at Rainhill.
For those that knew him John Bloor walks across from the cab of 73125 after moving the engine out of the shed for us to take a photograph of the only engine in steam here that day. For a short period Johns dad Basil was my driver at Saltley in the special link. I believe he had transferred from Stoke on Trent some years previous.
2nd March 1968.
Regards
Ledg.