Thanks to Looking Back regular Andy Hutchings for getting in touch following a far-flung request from Canada.

John Sherratt wanted to know if an Edwin Seward postcard photo of his great granddad was taken at Weymouth Railway Station and if there was a particular collection of Seward's known as the Melcombe series after it was written on the back.

Andy, of Weymouth, a collector of Seward cards, tells us: "Unfortunately there's no particular collection within Seward's postcards known as the Melcombe Series. Because his studio was in Turton Street in Weymouth they were all known as the Melcombe Series.

"He did various cards on things like shipping and they weren't actually a collection."

Andy confirmed that the photo of John's great granddad was taken at Weymouth Railway Station.

"Seward took lots of photos of Weymouth Railway Station. And you can tell this is Weymouth because at the end of the station there was a building and an undercover platform which was there for years."

Andy said he would be more than happy to correspond with John and discuss the wonderful photos of Edwin Seward.

Thanks also to local transport historian Brian Jackson who can tell us more about the photograph - which shows a 'clearance trial' at Weymouth.

He tells us: "The photograph is one of several taken by Edwin Seward of clearance trials undertaken at Weymouth station by Great Western Railway Saint Class No. 2907 Lady Disdain (named after a Shakespeare character).

"The reason for these trials were and are still are undertaken is when a new design of locomotive which exceeds the dimensions of previous ones in service is built, one is run over the system to ensure there are sufficient clearances at platforms etc. to ensure the locomotive will not come into contact with any structure that could cause an accident."

The details of the locomotive give us a clue as to the date of the photo, Brian says.

"Lady Disdain was built in May 1906 and not given a nameplate until April 1907, and fitted with a superheater in February 1910, as the nameplate is visible and no super heater parts are visible in the photograph this firmly places the photograph between April 1907 and before February 1910 and it was definitely Weymouth station, the overall roof in the background being removed in March 1951.

"The LSWR staff were withdrawn from Weymouth station from July 1 1912, the entire station staff being GWR, one assumes Samuel Wells like other LSWR staff transferred to stations on the LSWR system.

"The tank engine behind Lady Disdain was a GWR 4-4-2 “County” tank, a class built between 1905 and 1912 and mainly employed on fast Paddington suburban services. The most likely reason it being involved was until 1925 Weymouth only had a 45ft turntable thus larger engines were precluded from regular use on the Weymouth line, the tank engine with its clear view in the reverse direction would have made travelling backwards a long distance easier.

"The Saint class incorporated many revolutionary advances which were influential in British locomotive design for the next fifty years, they represented one of the most important steps forward in railway traction of the 20th century, and are acknowledged to have had a profound influence on almost every aspect of subsequent steam locomotive development.

"Originally a class of 98 locomotives they were a victim of their success, as improved locomotives were constructed a number of Saints were withdrawn, Lady Disdain succumbed in July 1933, although a number lived on doing Stirling work, the last few being withdrawn during 1953 including No. 2945 Hillingdon Court which until the end worked into Weymouth with the Kensington milk empties."

*Thanks to Andy and to Brian for their information.