A BR black ‘Saint’… but blink and you’ll miss it

FOR many the withdrawal and scrapping of Churchward ‘Saint’ No. 2920 Saint David by British Railways in 1953 was the last opportunity to see one of the graceful 4-6-0s in BR’s lined black livery.

Now, 64 years later, that opportunity is just around the corner once again.

Thanks to an agreement between photo-charter specialist Timeline Events and the Great Western Society, Didcot’s new-build ‘Saint’ No. 2999 Lady of Legend will be turned out in BR guise for just a few days this spring.

While several of the class received the BR livery with red-backed name and number plates, few of the 1906-batch of straight-framed ‘Ladies’ were so treated, No. 2908 Lady of Quality being one example.

Read more in January’s issue of The RM