Restored Pendennis Castle runs for the first time
SATURDAY, February 5, marked another milestone in the 22-year restoration of repatriated GWR 4-6-0 No.4079 Pendennis Castle when it ran for the first time since the start of its marathon restoration at Didcot Railway Centre.
In 1977, the late Sir William McAlpine sold No. 4079 to Western Australia mining company Hamersley Iron for use by enthusiasts among its workforce who formed the Pilbara Railways Historical Society.
However, it made its final run Down Under in October 1994, after which its boiler certificate expired, and when Hamersley decided not to fund repairs, it was decided to find a new home for it and the Great Wesern Society was chosen.
It arrived in the UK at Royal Portbury Dock near Bristol on July 8, 2000, and the locomotive underwent the first of its steam tests on August 13.
However, it did not run until February 3 when, during an open day at Didcot, a gathering of volunteers who had worked on its restoration under project manager Drew Fermor was assembled to watch it in action.
While a number of minor snags were noticed, No. 4079 is now booked for its formal launch into traffic at Didcot on April, 2. Sir William’s widow Lady Judy McAlpine has agreed to attend.