GWR 6000 Class 6024 King Edward I
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6024 King Edward I at Didcot
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| Official Website - King Edward I on Icons Of Steam | |||||||||||||||||
| Type and origin | |
|---|---|
| Power type | Steam |
| Builder | Great Western Railway Swindon works |
| Build date | June 1930 |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Operators | Great Western Railway |
| Class | GWR 6000 (King) Class |
| Number in class | 30 |
| Numbers | 6024 |
| Official name | King Edward I |
| Retired | June 1962 |
| Current owner | Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust |
Great Western Railway (GWR) 6000 Class 6024 King Edward I is a preserved steam locomotive. She ran from 1930 to 1962 for the Great Western Railway and latterly British Railways hauling express passenger services.
After withdrawal, it was sent to Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, South Wales, where it remained for a number of years before being bought for preservation. It returned to steam in 1989 and has since been certified for mainline running. The locomotive is currently undergoing a 10 yearly major overhaul to mainline running condition.
Built at GWR's Swindon Works in June 1930, for most of its working life it was allocated to Plymouth Laira MPD. Transferred to Old Oak Common MPD, London, in March 1959, and finally to Cardiff Canton TMD in 1962.
Sent to Swindon for breaking up, it had one final unusual task – coupled to its twin, 6023 King Edward II, it was towed over a bridge for weight testing purposes. Resultantly, with them now being closer to South Wales than Swindon, both locomotives survived and ended up being sold to Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, South Wales, where they languished in the company of 300 other locomotives.
Inspired by preserved class-mate No. 6000 King George V's 1971 breach of British Rail's steam ban, in 1973 the King Preservation Society wanted to restore a locomotive to mainline condition. Both Nos. 6023 and 6024 were available for purchase, but No. 6024 was preferred, because after a derailment in the Barry yard No. 6023 had had its rear driving wheels torched through, and at the time was considered beyond repair.
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