THIS black and white image was taken at the old Running Sheds, where the Hawksworth Industrial Estate now stands.

Probably dating from the 1950s, it shows a work crew arrayed proudly in front of 7037 Swindon, last of the GWR Castle Class locomotives to be built.

In the main body of men, the second on the left as we look at the image is fitter William Henry Gardner, who was born in 1896, died aged 70 in 1967 and lived in Moredon Road.

The photograph was brought to us by Mr Gardner’s grandson, railway historian and author Martin Buck, 61, who runs Freightmaster Publishing. His work includes the annual Loco Review.

Mr Buck, of Eldene, wonders whether Rewind readers recognise any of the other men in the picture or know how the picture came to be taken.

He said: “My sister came across this old brown, sepia, frayed-at-the-edges picture. It was four inches by three.

“It’s just interesting. Maybe the shed foreman took it as a memento of the crew.”

A total of 171 Castle Class locomotives were built, beginning in 1924.

And 7037 Swindon, completed in August of 1950, was the last. It was named by the then Princess Elizabeth on November 15 of that year during a visit to Swindon.

The machine was withdrawn from service in 1963 and later scrapped by Cashmore’s of Newport.

Eight of the class have been preserved, and 4073 Caerphilly Castle can be seen at Steam.

Also held by Steam is a relics of 7037 Swindon, a wheelguard decorated with Swindon’s coat of arms.

Mr Buck’s maternal grandfather died, knocked from his bike by a vehicle, when Mr Buck was a 13-year-old Commonweal pupil.

He vividly remembers coming home and learning of the tragedy.

“It was Friday the thirteenth of February. Robinson Crusoe was on the TV and everybody was crying.

“My grandfather was a very genteel man. My mother was very close to him.

"She took it very badly. She was only thirty-nine at the time.

“When I lost my father fifteen years ago I realised thirty-nine is no age to lose one of your parents.”

If you can shed any light on this picture, please get in touch.