A Great Western freight photo-charter organised by the Severn Valley SE Association on November 3rd coincided with the launch into traffic of no fewer than FOUR newly restored wagons. The day also coincided with beautiful weather enabling the participants to have a thoroughly enjoyable time at the end of a summer frustrated by foot and mouth restrictions.

Choice of motive power for the day was the barely run-in GW Pannier Tank 5786. Next to the engine was the sole surviving GW 'Damo B' box van one of ten built for taking cars through the Severn Tunnel. This vehicle had been shunted out of the bay siding at Staverton just two days earlier after a major rebuild. Next to it was the newly repainted LMS petrol tanker 27259 of 1929 which has received a splendidly detailed 'National Benzole' livery. This was also outshopped from Staverton at the same time. Next were the two Worcester Loco Society owned Mink box vans, followed by LMS box van 506327 and finally the SDRA's 'Toad' 68777. This last and vital wagon to all GW goods trains had also just emerged from overhaul in the workshops at Buckfastleigh. There it has received much new woodwork and all new steelwork around its verandah.

The SDR was also able to provide a recreation of that oh so Great Western scene of a pannier tank shunting the goods yard with its trusty shunters truck. The vehicle is No. 41873 of 1896 and it too has just come out of works from overhaul!
The picture was topped out so to speak by the sight of a shunter riding on the side complete with shunters pole.

The SDR has an extensive collection of goods vehicles and hopes one day to display the most interesting of these as part of a major museum exhibit to rival 'Steam' at Swindon.