FOREST of Dean Brass member and railway enthusiast Marie Fraser Griffiths made this fine 'spot' when she was driving round the roundabout into Lydney just after 11am on Sunday morning (April 1).

Our reader went home directly to email Peter Adams of Dean Forest Railway to ask: "Am I right in thinking that this is the ex GWR 0-4-2T – is it returning from Crewe Works?"

Dead right, Peter wrote back, it was no April Fool. He added: "Altogether, 95 '0-4-2s' were turned out of Swindon works between 1932 and 1936, no. 1450 being completed in 1935.

"It was based at Oxford for most of its life, working the Abingdon branch but its final allocation was Exmouth Junction, finally being withdrawn in 1965 when it was bought straight out of BR service.

"1450 is one of only four survivors. It has made visits to several heritage railways, including the Honeybourne Line. Famously, it was given a main line 'ticket' a few years ago and successfully worked the Dawlish Donkey along the Devon main line. The engine has just undergone its ten-year overhaul at Crewe."