GWR 4-6-0 Castle

5029 Nunney Castle

Built : Swindon May 1934

Withdrawn : 1963

Restored & Mainline Certified : 1990

Re-certified : 2008

 

 

Images : click on an image to enlarge

5029 Nunney Castle is a member of the Great Western Castle Class, and has been a recent regular performer on the mainline. It is currently the only Castle fitted with air braking equipment.

It emerged from Swindon works new in May 1934. It spent long periods shedded at Old Oak Common as well as Worcester and Cardiff East Dock.

During its Great Western Railway days it was used in many publicity photographs and “life on the railway” type of photo’s.

It was finally withdrawn from service at Cardiff East Dock in December 1963 and was delivered to Di Woodham’s scrap yard at Barry Island in the spring of the following year. It languished at Barry for over 12 years. It was buffer to buffer with 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe for a long period. In 1976 it was rescued and removed to The Great Western Society at Didcot. It was the 81st loco to leave the yard.

When originally purchased from Woodham’s it was jointly owned between a private consortium and the GWS. This arrangement changed in the mid 1990’s when the loco became wholly privately owned. Whilst it has recently changed owners, this is the case to the present day.

The loco was restored from scrapyard condition at Didcot and was returned to service in 1990. Since then it has been a regular performer on the mainline and has become a favourite with all the crews that have operated it.

In the late 1990’s it became due for its next overhaul and was sent to Ian Riley’s workshops in Bury Lancashire. During this overhaul it was fitted with air braking (still maintaining the vacuum system) and the tender was modified to give a larger water capacity. Both of these modifications were made to enable it to increase its sphere of operation on the main line. The loco returned to the main line in 2000. TPWS was fitted in 2002 (the first GW loco to be equipped).

In 2005 it was decided to inspect the loco and plan whether to perform an intermediate or full overhaul. It moved to Tyseley for the inspections and it was decided to opt for the full works. Part of this work includes being fitted with OTMR equipment (black box recorder).

5029 moved again under its own steam within the Tyseley yard on 1st April 2008 and undertook a mainline trial on 15th April 2008. Since then it has headed VT excursions to Chester, York, Lincoln and Bristol as well as appearing on the Shakespeare Express. It has also double-headed a tour with Tyseley classmate 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe.

The loco is operated on behalf of its owner by a small group of enthusiasts, some of them with more than 35 years experience of preserved steam and 30 years of mainline operation work. This very friendly bunch are always willing to welcome anybody that is interested in assisting with the work.

For more information about 5029 visit website : www.5029nunneycastle.co.uk

Alternatively, please contact either :-
Richard 07836 222661 or Ian 07961 319503.

By email:-