Old railway postcards

Alpha postcard

The 'Aberdare' class was built between 1900 & 1907 and most had been scrapped by 1938. 2626 was not one of those remaining at that time. The socket type of lamp holder was replaced by the vertical bracket soon after the Aberdares were built. The Great Bear, built in 1910, was outshopped with them in place. So this is an early photo. Talking of lamps, the ones stored on the running plate between the springs, include at least 2 with 'S' on them. It doesn't look as if that was the front face, through which the light would shine. Does anyone know the significance of the 'S'? I terms of location, none is given, but there used to be tall rows of terraced houses like these ones on the approaches to Paddington.

Most likely photographed at Swindon prior to setting out for Paddington, on 20th May 1910 - or possibly a day or two beforehand. This is not a King class locomotive, but a Star class, renamed for this duty, I believe.

The date and location are based on the construction date and location, as these 'photographic' grey shots were taken at completion, then the current livery was painted, before entering service.

The text below the card is that which is on its reverse.

This looks like a postcard made from the offical photograph, taken on completion in 1925 at Swindon. However, as 4079 took part in the exchange trials of 1925, this could have been taken elsewhere, even off GW metals.

An illustration from The Wonder Book of Railways of what looks like a Great Western Railway travelling post office. I can see no specific date for the illustration or indeed for the publication, but Great Bear was the largest loco around and the North British Locomotive Company was experimenting with an Electro-Turbo-Loco or steam turbine, which I gather was around 1910. (Having looked at an article in the book on Railways at War, the First World War had started, but doesn't seem to have come to an end, although no dates are mentioned. So I have revised the date to circa 1915.) This a bit early for Paul Townsend's Highbridge layout, (see scalefour.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=1867&sta... for details) but I thought he might like to see what would have been passing in an earlier era. I don't think the postal staff had to travel in those positions! This illustration had been uploaded after this photo had sparked a conversation on Flickr about the Highbridge mail apparatus This photo is now here at www.ipernity.com/doc/364457/26454919

Locomotive Publishing Co. postcard no 42 reprinted by Ian Allan The location looks like Brighton.

Alpha postcard

Locomotive Publishing Co. postcard

Alpha postcard

Locomotive Publishing Co. postcard

Locomotive Publishing Co. postcard no 15 reprinted by Ian Allan

Locomotive Publishing Co. postcard no 20 reprinted by Ian Allan

Locomotive Publishing Co. postcard

Locomotive Publishing Co. postcard

Locomotive Publishing Co. postcard no 70