DO NOT POST 'THOMAS AND FRIENDS' COMMENTS AGAINST MY PICTURES

News from the layout.

This will be the last picture of Falmouth Junction shed before demolition of the whole area commences next week (Tuesday November 17th). Never fear, however. There will be no supermarket going up on this site. Instead, the steam shed area will be much expanded and improved.

Here we see former GWR 28XX class 2-8-0 No. 2861 (of 86E Severn Tunnel Junction) awaiting her turn on the 75' turntable (which will remain as part of the new MPD). This picture recently appeared in an online magazine, but the published picture was of a necessarily limited size so I am sure they won't mind my sharing it with you.

I first encountered No. 2861 in Woodham's Yard, Barry, South Wales, back in October 1968. She had been in the yard for just over five years and I had a look in the cab, although there wasn't much left in there. Over the succeeding years, Welsh rain and salty sea air took their toll and she became one of the notorious 'Barry Ten' which were the final unsold locomotives in the yard. Several of these - which were, by this time, hulks - ended up being stripped for parts to be used in other locomotive projects, and this fate befell 2861. Some of her parts were earmarked for the 4709 Night Owl recreation project and her frames were scrapped at Llangollen in 2014.

I just thought it would be appropriate to remember a locomotive that could have made it into preservation - but didn't quite.

https://www.deviantart.com/brit31/art/Nearly-the-end-861163881