At this steam gala at the Watercress Line, two Great Western Railway locomotives were invited to participate; a Prairie tank from the South Devon Railway, and a Pannier tank from the Bodmin and Wenford Railway. Both classes of locomotive were designed by George Jackson Churchward. Here you can see the two sisters photographed together at Ropley station.

Starting on the right, the Prairie tank, numbered 5526, was built in Swindon in 1928 and began its working life at St. Blazey Shed. For the next seven years it was transferred across the southwest of England to such places as Launceston, Plymouth, and Newton Abbott, before settling in Truro in 1935, where it would stay until 1959. As diesel engines were introduced to the West Country, 5526 was moved to Westbury in Wiltshire, where it stayed until its withdrawal from service in 1962. Initially lined up for scrapping at the infamous Barry Scrapyard, it remained there until 1985, when a group of enthusiasts bought and moved it to the Swindon Works Heritage Centre for repairs. Repairs were completed in 1992, and 5526 was finally moved to Buckfastleigh on the South Devon Railway.

To the left, we have the Pannier tank numbered 4612, which was built and put into service in Swindon in 1942. For the next 20 years the engine would divert bases between Swindon and nearby Chippenham, before moving to Neath in South Wales in October 1962. 4612 was withdrawn from service while serving at Cardiff East Docks in 1965, and was promptly sent to Barry for scrapping. In 1981 the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway bought the engine for spare parts, before being bought by a private couple in 1987 for restoration in the Forest of Dean. 4612 was fully restored in 2001, and was bought by the Bodmin and Wenford Railway where the engine continues service to this day, returned to its original Brunswick Green GWR livery.

Hope you enjoy!