BACK IN ACTION:
The Great Western Society has outshopped Hunslet 0-6-0ST King George (2409/1942) as an 0-6-0T following overhaul – the loco is pictured on September 24 at the Didcot Big Steam event. One of only two 15” Hunslet steam locomotives in the UK – the other being the prototype Airedale (1440/1923) at Embsay, the designation 15” refers to cylinder size and the class is one of several standard types with cylinder sizes ranging from 12ins to 18ins in diameter. The original intention was to restore the loco as Thomas the Tank Engine and it therefore has Thomasstyle side tanks, which were built at Didcot. However, the Didcot Railway Centre is no longer running Thomas events so the loco has been restored with the original name King George and painted in a Great Eastern Railway blue. The saddle tank has been kept so the loco can be put back to original condition in future if desired.