50032 Denchworth (Circourt Bridge) 20 October 1979

Not a particularly good picture, but my only one showing 50032 Courageous in unrefurbished condition. It is pictured approaching Circourt Bridge, Denchworth with the 09:10 Bristol Temple Meads to Paddington service on 20 October 1979. Whereas most railway locations tend to get more grown up over time, the reverse has happened here. Note the bushes on the left, which like the still extant ones on the right were situated next to shallow ponds, which presumably were excavated to provide material for the bridge embankments. The pond on the left has long since been filled in and the bushes removed. Note also the abundance of mainly dead elm trees in the distance.