GWR Castle Class 4079 'Pendennis Castle' returns to service after an extensive 22 year overhaul by the Great Western Society at Didcot. This not only marks her first service runs since 1994, but also marks her first runs in the UK since 1977.
In 1977, 4079 was exported to Australia, having been sold by the late Sir William McAlpine to the Rio Tinto Railway, where she became a firm favourite, pulling trains over the extensive iron ore rail system. In 1994, she was stored as a result of mounting repair bills and operational difficulties, facing an uncertain future. After much deliberation, it was decided that she should return to the UK, and was donated to the Great Western Society, returning to Britain in July 2000. Faced with the most challenging of overhauls, with the locomotive's parts worn away from the red desert sand of Australia, the Society slowly worked away at the western engine, returning her to former glory 22 years later.
The launch event saw 4079 joined by her 21st Century counterpart, with GWR providing Class 57 57604 'Pendennis Castle' to display alongside the steam locomotive at Didcot, complete with heritage GWR livery and Swindon inspired embellishments.
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LOCOS & STOCK
GWR Castle Class 4079 'Pendennis Castle'
GWR Class 57 57604 'Pendennis Castle'
British Rail Class 14 D9514
Filmed on 2nd April 2022.
Many thanks for the company of @TheSouthernerYTChannel & @FullSteamAhead.
