The crew of ex-Great Western Railway '1400' class 0-6-2 tank are having a little local difficulty with the crossing barriers, preventing them re-starting their train from Lydney Junction Station. The signalman has walked down from the box to discuss the problem with the crew. Fortunately after a minor delay they were able to leave a few minutes later. The 1400s were renowned for being the GWR's archetypal branch line type, capable of both goods and passenger haulage. They were often used in conjunction with an 'autocoach'. This allowed the driver to work the controls of his locomotive remotely from one end of the coach, the fireman remaining on the footplate thus avoiding the need to run round the train when at a terminus. Seventy five 1400s were built between 1932 and 1936 to a Charles Collett design. In fact, the 1400s were merely a refinement of a much earlier class (the '517s') built from 1868 to 1885 to a design by George Armstrong. Collett merely adopted, adapted and improved! The pictured locomotive is actually No.1450 but disguised as 1401 the featured engine in the fondly remembered British comedy film 'The Titfield Thunderbolt'.
