Basingstoke MPD 21.5.63
Standard Class 5 73085 'Melisande' and S15 4-6-0 30511 stand near the primitive coaling stage at Basingstoke. Most unusually, 73085 has a new cast smokebox numberplate, presumably because the original one had been stolen. I cannot recall a similar instance at this late stage where a new plate was cast, at the best a home-made substitute was fixed by some caring fitter. I used to travel from Hook to Basingstoke to go to school, and after a while I worked out that by catching the 08:07 train instead of the 08:34 I had time to visit the shed every day. Film was expensive on 7/6 pocket money, so to take a camera on this occasion was special - I think that I wanted to finish off the film with 'Flying Scotsman' on that had passed through three days earlier.
Basingstoke MPD 21.5.63
Standard Class 5 73085 'Melisande' and S15 4-6-0 30511 stand near the primitive coaling stage at Basingstoke. Most unusually, 73085 has a new cast smokebox numberplate, presumably because the original one had been stolen. I cannot recall a similar instance at this late stage where a new plate was cast, at the best a home-made substitute was fixed by some caring fitter. I used to travel from Hook to Basingstoke to go to school, and after a while I worked out that by catching the 08:07 train instead of the 08:34 I had time to visit the shed every day. Film was expensive on 7/6 pocket money, so to take a camera on this occasion was special - I think that I wanted to finish off the film with 'Flying Scotsman' on that had passed through three days earlier.