Big April launch bash for Pendennis Castle’s return
GWR icon No. 4079 Pendennis Castle is to be officially relaunched into traffic at Didcot Railway Centre over the Easter bank holiday weekend next year.
Celebrating what will be the repatriated 4-6-0's return to passenger train action after nearly 28 years, preparations are underway for a showpiece event with guest engines and VIPs, including some from the locomotive's past.
Furthermore, it is hoped to unite No. 4079 with the modern railway's Pendennis Castle for the occasion.
Built by Brush Traction at Falcon Works in Loughborough, Brush Type 4 D1859 entered BR service on August 21, 1965.
Renumbered under TOPS as Class 47 No. 47209, in 2004 it was converted to a Class 57/6, No. 57604, for use on the sleeper service between London, Devon and Cornwall.
Brunswick Green diesel
It still carries the Brunswick Green livery that was applied in 2010 to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the GWR being incorporated, and was named Pendennis Castle on October 5 that year. It is now in service with the 21st century train operator Great Western Railway.
Redundant Class 47s were reengineered and rebuilt by Brush. The class has its origins in 1997, when Freightliner ordered an initial six locomotives. Class members are fitted with a refurbished diesel engine and a reconditioned alternator, improving reliability and performance. Each cost £300,000, about one-third of a new-build locomotive.
In 2017, No. 57604 became the first of the class to run on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway when it appeared in that year's diesel gala.
Last issue, we carried pictures of No. 4079's first steaming at Didcot on August 13 following its marathon 21-year restoration.
Outshopped from Swindon in February 1924, the following year No. 4079 beat Nigel Gresley's Pacifics in trials on the East Coast Main Line, and at the Wembley Exhibition that year, the GWR displayed it alongside none other the LNER's No. 4472 Flying Scotsman, with a notice boasting that the Swindon product was the most powerful locomotive in Britain.
Bought for preservation in 1964, it was one of the first wave of steam locomotives to be allowed back on the national network after BR relaxed its post-1968 main line steam ban in 1971.
Return from Australia
In 1977, the late Sir William McAlpine sold No. 4079 to West Australian mining concern Hamersley Iron.
The locomotive last steamed Down Under in October 1994. Faced with huge repair bills, Hamersley Iron agreed to donate it to the Great Western Society.
As pictured on the front cover of Heritage Railway issue 15, it arrived at Portbury Dock on July 8, 2000, on board the container ship Toba.
The August 13 steam tests were undertaken for insurance purposes, and Pendennis Castle reappeared in public for Didcot's August 28-30 bank holiday steam up, although it did not move under its own power.
On the Saturday, it was hauled out of the engine shed by GWR Avonside 0-4-0ST No. 1340 Trojan and serenaded by a jazz band when the society held a 60th anniversary party for Didcot volunteers, who enjoyed beer and a barbeque.
On the Monday, No. 4079 was displayed alongside classmate
No. 5051 Earl Bathurst and the awardwinning new Saint 4-6-0 No. 2999
Lady of Legend before being returned to the shed.
In action over the weekend alongside Trojan and No. 2999 were Lambton 0-6-2T No. 29, visiting from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, and Class 14 D9516.
Pendennis Castle will again take centre stage when the society holds its second major 60th anniversary gala event on October 23/24.
No. 4079 will then spend the winter having final jobs completed, the remaining parts fitted, and painting and lining out completed, in readiness for its April launch.
➜ To donate to the society's Diamond Jubilee appeal and help Didcot recover from the pandemic, visit https:// didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/product. php/110/diamond-jubilee-fund