TRAINS of thought
In this issue of Steam Days, Steve Bartlett takes a look at the summer-dated holiday expresses from Wolverhampton that were performed by three BR ‘Britannia’ Pacifics - Nos 70045, 70047 and 70053 - during the summer of 1965 which had in the previous summer been worked by ‘Castles’, as described by Steve in his detailed article on the Oxley ‘Castles’ that featured in the April 2015 issue of this magazine. As with his earlier contributions, the story goes way beyond just the core summer Saturday duties.
Prior to the closure to steam of Wolverhampton’s Stafford Road shed in 1963, Oxley was predominantly a freight shed with, over the years, allocations of ‘Granges’, ‘Halls’, ‘2800’ class, WD ‘Austerity’ and ‘ROD’ 2-8-0s, Churchward Moguls,’7200’ class 2-8-2Ts, ‘5600’ class 0-6-2Ts…
