But what colours and textures! Exposed surfaces, now devoid of all but patchy traces of paint, offered a rich spectrum of yellow, orange, red and mauve which I later discovered would be subdued and shift towards violet when it rained. Many frames and wheels still held on to their accumulated coating of grit and grease. There were wonderful surfaces of faded, cracked and peeling paint. In a number of especially exciting examples original insignia could still be seen proclaiming Southern or Great Western ancestry and pedigree. The original SOUTHERN logo could be seen clearly re-asserting itself under both the BR lion and wheel emblem of 1948 and the later 1957 version as the intervening layers of paint faded away.

Would-be new owners proclaimed their ambitions in less formal but urgent appeals in graffiti of startling white streaked with yellow as rust began to reassert its authority over everything in the yard. The history of a locomotive's stay at Barry could be read in these messages. DO NOT REMOVE PARTS was a hopeful but also depressing exhortation. One wondered "Who is J.P. Rollin?" and would the enthusiast who invited fellow devotees to seek further details of his interest in 35022 from 15 Wills Road eventually secure the locomotive? I was moved by the simple message SAVE ME on the smokebox door of 45163 and the cylinder cover of 44901 and I could not disagree with the assertion that "8Fs ARE ACE" on the buffer beam of 48173. Though amused by the tearful face on the smokebox door of 48305, I was touched by the plea DON'T LET ME DIE.

Though growth was suspended for the winter, nature was preparing a shroud. Buddleia was everywhere, growing vigorously all around, through and even on the locomotives. Brambles, willowherb and a wild profusion of smaller plants appeared to be overwhelming first the track and gradually its silent, static and helpless occupants. 3855 was already under seige and would soon be engulfed unless rescue came soon. It came five years later. Many small gardens flourished in smokeboxes and in any sheltered corner where a suitable foothold could be found. I remember particularly the entanglement around 75079. With a cosmetic coat of glossy green paint it was clearly preparing to follow 35006 out of the yard but the brambles seemed determined that it should not escape without a fight.

   

All text and images copyright © Brian Sefton/BlackFive 2000. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.