It is the photo of Castle hauled down 'Limited' approaching Penzance in 1955. This was 7 years into Nationalisation and the smoke door bears no sign of a number plate or a lamp bracket that should have the train headboard bolted to it . From the photo the loco appears to be in 'good nick', apart from the leaking steam from the firemans side cylinder - the copper work on the chimney and brass work around the safety valve appears to be clean as does the smoke box door itself. There seems to be no number on the buffer beam, which indicates that the loco is in B.R. livery.
It occurs to me that the smoke box door may have been replaced recently and the loco has been placed back in service before the number plate and lamp bracket had been refitted.
Has anyone any further views on this matter?
My kindest regards, Martin Budd.