Image Licensing : No 92220 Evening Star, in steam

EDITORS COMMENTS

In this evocative photograph, No. 92220 "Evening Star" gracefully puffs out plumes of steam at Swindon Railway Works in the late evening hours. Built in 1960 as the last mainline steam locomotive to be produced in Britain, this 2-10-0 9F class engine carries a rich historical significance. The "Evening Star" was named after a local newspaper in Swindon, Wiltshire, where the locomotive was built at the iconic Swindon Works of the Great Western Railway (GWR). Its distinctive livery, adorned with intricate details and the bold "Evening Star" insignia, adds to its allure. As the sun sets and the shadows grow long, the "Evening Star" comes to life, its powerful pistons rhythmically pumping water and generating steam. The scene is a poignant reminder of the romance and majesty of the steam era, a time when the railways were the lifeblood of the nation. Withdrawn from service in 1965, the "Evening Star" was preserved for future generations to appreciate. Today, it is a cherished exhibit at the Steam Museum of the GWR, where visitors can marvel at its engineering prowess and pay homage to an era that forever changed the landscape of transportation in Britain.