GWR 4073 Class 5029 Nunney Castle

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5029 Nunney Castle seen in preservation at Didcot Railway Centre in the 1980s.
File:5029 Nunney Castle at speed.jpg
5029 Nunney Castle at speed, 1980s photo
File:Steaming through Dorchester West.ogv
Nunney Castle steam special passing through Dorchester West on its return from Weymouth to Bath 14 August 2011

GWR 4073 Class 5029 Nunney Castle is a Great Western Railway Castle Class steam locomotive. It was built at Swindon Works in 1934, and takes the name of Nunney Castle near Frome, Somerset. She was outshopped from Swindon Works on 28 May 1934. The locomotive was used in many publicity and "life on the railway" type of photographs. During the first day of the World War II Evacuations, the locomotive hauled trains carrying children being taken from London to the safety of the countryside. Nunney Castle was also used to haul the Royal Train in October 1957 from London Paddington station to Gloucester.

Allocation

No.5029 was initially allocated to Old Oak Common MPD (code PDN/81A) in West London where it was to spend most of its working life. The engine moved to Worcester in 1958, then had spells at Newton Abbot and Laira before a final transfer in December 1962 took it to Cardiff East Dock, where it was to remain until being withdrawn along with other members of its class in December 1963.

Sale and restoration

Nunney Castle was sold in 1964 to Woodham Brothers at Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, arriving at the famous scrap yard in the June where it was to languish for 12 years Sold to a consortium consisting of private individuals (50%) and the Great Western Society at Didcot Railway Centre (50%), it was rescued from Woodham's in May 1976, and was the last loco to leave Barry scrapyard by rail. The loco returned to the main line in 1990. In the mid 1990s, the private consortium took total control and the loco left Didcot for a life on the main line. After sale to Jeremy Hosking and a further overhaul, the locomotive returned to the main line in April 2008.

References

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External links