7029 Clun Castle at Southam bridge on the last steam hauled Penzance to Wolverhampton train (David Aldred)  

Our story about through trains prompted David Aldred of Bishops Cleeve to dig out the excellent picture below taken from Southam bridge, looking towards the racecourse.

It shows the very last Castle class 4-6-0 no. 7029 Clun Castle heading north with the very last steam -hauled Penzance-Wolverhampton express which left Penzance at 12.20 on 4th September 1965 (the last The Cornishman ran on 6th September 1962). In fact, Clun Castle clocked up other 'lasts' on our line: it hauled the last steam-hauled train out of Cheltenham St James's station on 12th June 1965, a Charlton Kings Sunday School special to Weston-Super-Mare. It also hauled the last steam-hauled Cheltenham Gold Cup race special from Paddington on 14th March 1963. Clun Castle survives and is currently being overhauled for a further main-line spell of action.