A sunny afternoon at Whiteball, on the Devon/Somerset border near Wellington. Ex-GWR 'Hall' Class 4-6-0 No. 4999 'GOPSAL HALL' passes Whiteball Summit and begins the descent towards Wellington with an eastbound parcels train.
The GWR 'Hall' Class numbered 330 in total. The first one was a rebuild of a member of the 'Saint' Class with smaller wheels. This proved successful and further examples were built in batches over a period of twenty years. They could be seen on any type of train, passenger, parcel and freight, right up to the end of the steam on British Railways.
Limited few copies left - unframed

Designed by O.V.S. Bulleid, the Southern Railway 'West Country' and 'Battle of Britain' classes entered service in 1945. They were a revolutionary design and due to their light axle loading, were to be seen almost anywhere on the Southern network. 'Battle of Britain' class 4-6-2 No. 34067 'TANGMERE' was rescued from Barry scrapyard in 1981. It has recently returned to service after a twenty year restoration to full main line standards and may now be seen hauling steam excursions in various parts of the country. It is seen here passing close to the site of Tangmere R.A.F. station near Oving, a few miles from Chichester, with Wessex Trains' pullman liveried set of BR Mk. 3 coaches.

G. J. Churchward's masterpiece, the 'Star' class, first entered traffic in 1907. The first 10 locomotives were given the names of stars, commemorating a class of broad gauge locomotives built between 1839 and 1841. They were elegant and graceful engines, serving the GWR with distinction over a period of almost fifty years, the last survivor being withdrawn in 1956. No. 4003 'LODE STAR' is seen here In the early 1930's at Patchway, north west of Bristol, at the end of its climb from the Severn Tunnel with an express from South Wales to London. 'LODE STAR' is preserved as a member of the National Collection and may still be seen at the National Railway Museum, York.

The Waverley' was introduced in 1957 and was a revival, and re-naming, of the 'Thames-Forth Express' from London (St. Pancras) to Edinburgh. It was a short lived working as the Waverley route from Carlisle to Edinburgh was closed in January 1969 and with it the end of through running between London and Edinburgh via the Midland route. During the late summer of 1958, the heavily loaded up train, hauled by a pair of 'Jubilee' class 4-6-0's Nos. 45608 'Gibraltar' and 45729 'Furious' passes Als Gill signal box and begins the long downhill run towards Leeds. The mass of Wild Boar Fell looms In the background. Ais Gill, at 1169ft., Is the highest main line summit In England and marks the end of the 'long drag' from both Leeds and Carlisle. The signal box and loops have now been removed and only the summit board, close to the bridge, remains. The title of the painting Is a quotation from a poem by A. E. Housman, the Shropshire poet.
Into my heart an air that kills from yon far country blows What are these blue remembered hills? What spires, what farms are those? It is the land of lost content, I see It shining plain Those happy highways where I went, and cannot come again.

The 'TORBAY EXPRESS' hauled by ex-GWR 'Castle' class 4-6-0 No. 5011 'TINTAGEL CASTLE' leaves Churston, on the first stage of its journey from Kingswear to Paddington. In the bay platform, '1400' class 0-4-2T No. 1470 waits to leave with the branch line train to Brixham. The branch from Paignton to Kingswear was unusual in that it could take the heaviest expresses. The whole of the branch is now preserved as The Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway and is a major tourist attraction in the South West of England.

Numerous transport links cross the Midland Shires on their routes north from London. Two of these, the Grand Union Canal and the West Coast main line of the former LMS Railway are often In close proximity. On the 1st January 1948 both were nationalised, becoming British Waterways and British Railways. New liveries were introduced and both concerns took on new corporate Identities Early on a spring morning In the mid-1950's near Nether Heyford, Northamptonshlre, 'Leo' and 'Saturn', a pair of British Waterways narrow boats, prepares to continue their journey to Birmingham. On the nearby embankment, an express from Blackpool to London passes, hauled by ex LMS 'Jubilee' Class 4-6-0 No. 45580 'Burma'

The 'Irish Mail' is the oldest named train in the country. For many years it ran between Euston and Holyhead to connect with the steamers to Dun Laoghaire, south of Dublin. In this view, from 1958, 'Royal Scot' class 4-6-0 No. 46141 'The North Staffordshire Regiment' passes Rugby No.5 signal box with the down train as it gathers speed after it's stop at Rugby Midland station. On an adjacent track an ex-LNWR G2a 0-8-0 makes a maximum effort to start a heavy goods train destined for the Coventry and Birmingham line.

Sir William Stanler's magnificent 'Coronation' class Pacific's were among the largest locomotives built for any of Britain's railways. The first ten were streamlined, but the next five were built without the streamlined casing. One of this series, No. 6233 'DUCHESS OF SUTHERLAND' stands at Carlisle Citadel Station in 1946 waiting to take over a Southbound express. During the war years, many of the class were modified by having the streamlined casing removed and smoke deflectors and double chimneys fitted. 'DUCHESS OF SUTHERLAND' Is believed to be the only member of the class to emerge from the war years In modified form and still In LMS red livery. Following the withdrawal from service In 1964, 'DUCHESS OF SUTHERLAND' was repainted in its original LMS livery for preservation. Following ten years of display at a holiday camp in Scotland, It was moved to Bressingham Railway Museum in Norfolk and restored to full working order. It was recently transferred to private ownership and may now be seen working on main line steam specials in various parts of Britain.

The Great Western's main line from London and Bristol was magnificently engineered. Straight, fast and with comparatively few gradients of any significance, it provided the easiest approach to London of any of the major railways. Here, in the early afternoon, on a warm September day in 1949, 'Castle' class 4-6-0 No. 5084 'READING ABBEY' throws up a plume of spray as it picks up water from Goring Troughs with an express from South Wales to Paddington. On the adjacent slow line, 6100 class 2-6-2T No. 6132 makes leisurely progress towards Reading with a freight from the Oxford line. 'READING ABBEY' was originally built in 1922 as a member of the 'Star' class. It was withdrawn in February 1937 for rebuilding as a 'Castle' , re-entering traffic in April of that year. The 6100 class were designed for tightly timed London suburban commuter trains. When diesel power began to take over, however, many were moved to more outlying parts of the system and began to appear on other duties, such is the one shown in this painting.

A freezing winter afternoon at Stretton-under-Fosse, near Rugby, in 1959. 'TEAL' and 'CRANE', members of the Willow Wren Canal Company's fleet of narrow boats, make their way slowly along the Oxford Canal towards Hawkesbury Junction. On the adjacent embankment 'THE CALEDONIAN', on its way to London from Glasgow, races past, hauled by 'Coronation' class Pacific No. 46229 'DUCHESS OF HAMILTON'. 'DUCHESS OF HAMILTON' is preserved as part of the National Collection. It was originally streamlined and is the locomotive which was exhibited at the New York World Fair in 1939, disguised as No. 6220 'CORONATION'. It can now be seen as a static exhibit at the National Railway Museum, York.

Stretton-under-Fosse, near Rugby In the winter of 1938. A pair of Fellows Morton & Clayton narrow boats, 'Denmark' and 'Linda' make their way slowly south with a cargo for the London Docks. On the adjacent West Coast main line, LMS 'Coronation' Class 4-6-2 No. 6221 'QUEEN ELIZABETH' powers northwards with the Glasgow- bound 'Coronation Scot' Sir William Stanier's 'Coronation' class paclfics entered service In 1937. The first five were painted In Caledonian blue livery with silver stripes especially for working the 1. 30 p.m. express from Euston and Glasgow. As the LNER had already Introduced a new express named the 'Coronation' the LMS named theirs the 'Coronation Scot'. The service was discontinued at the outbreak of World War II, and was never re-instated.

Amidst glorious Highland scenery and back on the line for which it was built, preserved LNER K4 2-6-0 No. 3442 "THE GREAT MARQUESS" swings round the western end of Loch Eilt, between Glenfinnan and Lochailort, with the special charter train run for its owner, the Earl of Lindsay, from Fort William to Mallaig on July 15th, 1989.

The appearance of one of Sir Nigel Gresley's 'A4' Paclflcs always caused excitement amongst Iineside observers. Their streamlined shape and melodious chime whistles graced the East Coast main line for almost a quarter of a century. Here No. 60024 'KINGFISHER', an Edinburgh based locomotive seldom seen so far south, appears out of the gloom of a winter's day at Peterborough (North) In 1951, with an express for King's Cross. Altogether, 35 of these locomotives were built, perhaps the best known being 'MALLARD', holder of the world record for steam traction at 126 mph. Six of the class are preserved. One Is in the United States and one in Canada. Of the remaining four, two are maintained in working order and may still be seen hauling steam specials, both on privately preserved lines and, occasionally, on main line excursions. Mallard, the record holder, is now a static exhibit at the National Railway Museum, York.

Newton Abbot was for many years a notorious bottle-neck on the main GWR line from London to the South West. In 1928, the station was completely re-built in an attempt to ease the congestion. This view shows the station as it appeared in 1930, shortly after rebuilding. GWR 'Star' Class 4-6-0 No. 4010 'WESTERN STAR' leaves with an express for Paignton & Kingswear. 5700 Class Panier Tank No. 5760 makes its way towards the West loading dock with a 'Siphon C' milk van.

A fine summer morning on the Kennet and Avon Canal during the late 1920's. The horse drawn barge 'Unity' slowly makes its way towards Hungerford. Its crew, busily engaged in negotiating Little Bedwyn lock, pause to watch an express for Plymouth as it races past on the adjacent Great Western main line, hauled by 'Saint' class 4-6-0 No. 2982 'LALLA ROOKH' and 'Castle' class No. 4093 'DUNSTER CASTLE'. The first examples of G. J. Churchward's 'Saint' class locomotives appeared in 1902. A total of 92 were built over a period of years, the last one entering service in April 1913. Although only 20 were actually named after Saints, this is the name by which the class was universally known. Of the other members of the class, some were named after country houses and others after characters from the novels of Sir Walter Scott. The 'Saint' class formed the basis of all subsequent express passenger locomotive development on the GWR right up to Nationalisation in 1948. The last survivor, No. 2920 'SAINT DAVID' was withdrawn in October 1953. The first of C. B. Collett's 'Castle' class locomotives first appeared in 1923. They were a development of the earlier 'Star' class, which in turn were developed from the 'Saints'. Most were named after castles in south west England and Wales. They formed the mainstay of express passenger motive power on the GWR over many years. A total of 171 were built, the last 20 not appearing until after nationalisation, in 1950. The first one, No. 4073 'CAERPHILLY CASTLE' is now in the National Collection and several others have been preserved. They were known as 'Swindon's Finest'. The Kennet barge 'UNITY' was the last vessel to use the Kennet and Avon Canal on a regular basis before the canal was allowed to fall into disuse in 1933. Built by Robins, Lane and Pinnegar, it was mainly used to transport timber from Savernake Forest to the builder's boatyard at Honeystreet. It was a very large boat by canal standards, being almost 70 ft. long and having a beam of 13ft. 9ins., making it a very tight fit in the many locks on the canal. The Kennet and Avon canal is now in the process of being restored and is increasingly used by narrow boat enthusiasts.

Limited Edition (500 copies)
Factual incident over Camber Sands - 18th September 1940
Signed by Gp. Capt. C.B.F. Kingcombe DSO, DFC*
Wing Cdr. R.E. (Tich) Havercroft AFC
Includes History of the painting and Certificate of Authenticity