The year following the demise of the Taff Vale Railway and the GWR 4-4-2T engine with two passengers coaches at Alberta Place Halt, Penarth in 1923 borrowed from 'The Taff Vale Railway' a fascinating book for railway enthusiasts published in 1949. The engine is No. 1303 formerly TVR number 172. She was built at the Vulcan Foundry in 1888 being one of three built that year with another three the following year. [006]

TVR No. 172 was based at the Penarth Dock engine shed and renumbered No. 1303 by the GWR upon the regrouping of the railways in 1922. She remained at Penarth Dock being withdrawn from service during October 1926 - hence the image predates this. The engine design was the brainchild of Mr. Hurry Riches engineer to the TVR and the culmination of many years experience of steam traction on the steep inclines of the Taff Vale railway system.

TVR number 170 was built in the same batch as number 172 above. A handsome engine indeed, all six of these engines built in the years 1888 and 1889 were adopted by the GWR under the terms of the Railways Act 1921. Note the masts of the sailing vessels in the background - I think this a view at Cardiff Docks. The photograph comes from the booklet 'Locomotives of the Taff Vale Railway'. [139]

'A class 0-6-2T ascending Penarth Bank on a Penarth passenger train, 1923' is the title of this photograph attributed to H. T. Hobbs within the fine book 'The Taff Vale Railway' by D. S. M. Barrie. I am unable to make out the number but she is a lovely example of the steam era. [006]