March-allocated class 31/1 31169 has moved off depot and waits in one of the former GN&GE platforms at the station for the road giving access to the 'Down Goods.' The date is 10th March 1979 and railfans are eagerly awaiting the arrival of a rare locomotive for this area, 'Hoover' class 50 No.50050 working a special charter from London Bridge to York via Spalding.
Introduced to BR service from Brush Falcon Works (works No.187) in February 1960 as D5587, it was renumbered 31169 under the TOPS scheme. Appearing to have had works treatment not long before I took this photo, this clearly stood it in good stead as a candidate for ETH conversion, when it was renumbered 31457. Withdrawn from Bescot depot in February 1994, it was cut up by CF Booth of Rotherham in March 1994. ©www.railphotoprints.co.uk - Gordon Edgar