Narrow escape

The solitary BR Standard Class 8 4-6-2 71000 'Duke of Gloucester', seen in Dai Woodhams scrapyard at Barry Island 5 years after being withdrawn from service.
Not deemed worthy of saving, just the cylinders and Caprotti valve gear were put aside for display.
After purchase by enthusiasts in 1974, a 13 year restoration project completely reversed the poor steaming qualities for which the loco was noted, and is now a free steaming and very powerful loco.
For the record, the locos in front of the Duke are BR Standard 4MT 4-6-0 75014, LMS Crab 2-6-0 42765 and BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 92134.
26Oct67.Scanned