1338 is one of a class of only two engines, unusually employing Kitson-Hawthorn valve gear with the link above the running plate, built for the Cardiff Railway in 1898.

The Cardiff Railway was owned by the Marquis of Bute and was the smallest railway absorbed into the Great Western in 1923.

As you scan and upload old photos, sometimes you come across real treasures.

In this case I'd spent an afternoon linesiding around Didcot trying to get pictures of the last of the Class 52 Westerns. Mid afternoon I was on the bridge at South Moreton - and sometimes you just get lucky!

Just added some pictures taken on 20th February 2004 at a night shoot at Didcot Railway Centre. 

Now despite its fanaticism for all things copper-capped, its not actually a bad place at all.  In fact, its pretty damn good.