It is late November 1965 and the mighty steam train pulls out of Paddington station for the last time.

It leaves only smoke in its wake, the puffs rising slowly to the glass domed ceiling, before finally blending in with cloudy sky.

The era of steam travel has ended. Once a masterpiece of modern engineering, the technology had become outdated, condemning the remaining trains to the gloomy halls of museums worldwide.

They are a far cry from the new high speed trains which the government is proposing to implement as part of the HS2 scheme which will connect London and Birmingham via a high speed line.

These photos depict the nostalgic magnificence of steam travel at the famous Paddington station. From an embracing couple, to hoards of holiday makers, steam trains touched the lives of even the most humble members of British society, and provided inspiration for the story of the famous Paddington Bear.