7th April 1998 BR 14XX No.1450 potters past Norton Fitzwarren on the 7th April 1998 operating a Bishops Lydeard - Exeter TMD via Fairwater Yard. The loco was moving in preparation for the forthcoming 'Dawlish Donkey' charters which operated between Exeter and Newton Abbot. (Photo: David Jones)

7th April 1998 0-4-2 No.1450 exits from the West Somerset Railway on the 7th April 1998 onto the national network. The loco was operated a Bishops Lydeard to Exeter TMD via Fairwater Yard. It was operating with an inspection saloon and moving to Exeter in preparation for the Dawlish Donkey charters. (Photo: David Jones)

7th April 1998 0-4-2 No.1450 exits from the West Somerset Railway on the 7th April 1998 onto the national network. The loco was operated a Bishops Lydeard to Exeter TMD via Fairwater Yard. It was operating with an inspection saloon and moving to Exeter in preparation for the Dawlish Donkey charters. (Photo: David Jones)

7th April 1998 GWR 0-4-2 14XX No.1450 crossed the up and down mainline at Norton Fitzwarren on the 7th April 1998 operating a Bishops Lydeard - Exeter TMD move in preparation for the 'Dawlish Donkey' charters. (Photo: David Jones)

7th April 1998 0-4-2 No.1450 exits from the West Somerset Railway on the 7th April 1998 onto the national network. The loco was operated a Bishops Lydeard to Exeter TMD via Fairwater Yard. It was operating with an inspection slaoon and moving to Exeter in preperation for the Dawlish Donkey charters. Built at the Derby Carriage & Wagon Works in 1927 as a 57 ft. first class corridor brake coach with four full compartments and one half non-smoking ‘coupe’ one, a brake compartment and numbered 5033.| Finally withdrawn in November, 1960 and converted at Wolverton Carriage Works into an Inspection Saloon for the Chief Projects Officer of the West Coast Main Line Electrification scheme at a cost of £6,000 it returned to service in December, 1961 and was renumbered DM395707 in the departmental stock range of numbers.| Condemned in January,1965, a completely new wooden framed steel plated saloon body, but incorporating many original parts, was built at Wolverton, the last L.M.S. type to be built there and craftsmen took great pride in the quality of this replacement. Fitted to a B.R. Mark 1 brake second suburban coach underframe, ex M43232, which had been placed on ‘Commonwealth’ type bogies, it was now kept strictly available to the London Midland Region’s General Manager only and kept at Euston ready for use.| On 7th May, 1974 it was the last vehicle in the special Royal Train formation used to convey Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh when they inspected the newly electrified West Coast main line between Preston and Glasgow, being marshalled behind Royal Saloon 2911, also in the Trust’s collection. | Re-numbered 6320 in Inter-City stock and re-painted in light grey/red stripe/dark grey livery in 1989 it was used as a V.I.P. vehicle and for special charter work, before being sold initially in 1996 first to Waterman Railways for charter work and then to Rail Charter Services. (Photo: David Jones)