Station Name: PADSTOW[Source: Martin James]
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On an unknown date during Southern Railway days, a train hauled by an O2 class approaches Padstow with the turntable and Camel visible on the left. The train comprises a 4-wheel full brake and a pair of ex-LSWR carriages. The O2 class had an early history similar to that of the Beattie Well Tanks in that they were built for London suburban services and later displaced to country sheds. Designed by William Adams and built at Nine Elms commencing in 1889, the class totally 60 examples. Over the years there were a number of variations within the class; cab roof height; bunker size; braking equipment to name three. The class survived intact into Southern Railway days but there were a number of withdrawals subsequently. Nonetheless 48 example survived into British Railways ownership. The class is most famous for its use on the Isle of Wight, where 21 examples had been sent having first received various modifications. All bar two were shipped over by the Southern Railway. On the mainland the final example bowed out in 1962, this being BR No.30225 which was LSWR No.225 when new and from the penultimate batch built in 1891. The Isle of Wight locomotives had been given the unique number series W14 - W34 and named after locations on the island, a few of which were quite obscure. Most of the Isle of Wight batch remained in service until 1966 when Ryde (Smallbrook Jct.) - Newport/Cowes and Shanklin - Ventnor closed. Two, W24 'Calbourne' and W31 ' Chale', continued in service on engineering trains in connection with electrification of the remaining Ryde - Shanklin section for ex London Transport Standard Tube Stock. W24 and W31 were finally withdrawn in 1967 and both were earmarked for preservation. W31, however, did not make it and thus W24 is the sole surviving example. She can be seen today on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. Back at Padstow, the locomotive number cannot be identified. The duty number, however, is just visible under magnification and appears to be 607 while the disc position tells us the train is arriving from Bodmin.
Photo from Malc McCarthy collection
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