GWR 6000 Class
Encyclopedia
The Great Western Railway
6000 Class or King is a class of 4-6-0
steam locomotive
designed for express passenger work. With the exception of one Pacific (The Great Bear
), they were the largest locomotives the GWR built. They were named after kings of the United Kingdom and of England, beginning with the reigning monarch, King George V
, and going back through history. Following the death of King George V, the highest-numbered engine was renamed after his successor; and following the abdication of the latter, the next-highest engine was also renamed after the new King.
, as an enlarged version of Collett's Castle Class
, which in turn was an enlargement of George Jackson Churchward
's Star Class
. Churchward had proposed fitting the 6ft diameter boiler used on his 4700 Class
2-8-0
on to a 4-6-0
chasis in 1919 to create a more powerful express locomotive, but had been prevented from doing so due to weight restrictions on several bridges on the GWR main line. Collet's Castle class of 1923 was therefore a compromise with a 5' 6" boiler. However, bridge strengthening and a better understanding of the impact of hammer blow
on structures brought about by the work of the 'Bridge Stress Committee' set up by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research led to the relaxation of these restrictions.
The new design was partly to meet future traffic requirements, but was also a response to the Great Western Railway
publicity department's desire to regain the title of having the 'most powerful express passenger steam locomotive in Britain', which had been taken from the Castle Class in 1926 by the Southern Railway Lord Nelson Class
. The engines, as originally designed, delivered 39700 lbf (176,594.4 N) tractive effort
, with 16-inch bore by 28-inch stroke cylinders and 250 pound per square inches (1.72 MPa) boiler. At a request from Sir Felix Pole
, the Great Western
's General Manager, to get the tractive effort up to above 40,000 lbf (a major goalpost), the cylinders were enlarged to -inch bore, bringing the figure up to 40300 lbf (179,263.3 N). This increase was removed on all members of the class at their first major overhaul. The distinctive design of the leading bogie
(with outside bearings on the fore wheel and inside bearings on the rear wheel) was to allow for these larger cylinders.
The first, No. 6000 King George V
, appeared in 1927 and was sent on a tour of North America, for the Centenary celebrations of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
(B&O), where its sleek appearance and smooth performance impressed all who witnessed it. The application of pressurised oil lubrication showed its advantages over the largely grease-lubricated American Locomotives, and was even incorporated into a later design for the B&O in 1928. King George V was presented with a brass bell to mark the occasion. The original scheme for the Kings had been to name them after cathedrals, but when the US trip was planned it was felt that a more unmistakably British icon was needed. During planning and construction the engine was dubbed the 'Super-Castle'.
They were engines to be reckoned with, powering the Western Region
's crack expresses like the Cornish Riviera Limited
up until the end of regular steam hauled express services on the WR.
An interesting fact is that although the railway claimed that the class was built in response to longer and heavier trains, it was several years after its introduction before the platforms at the company's major stations were lengthened to accommodate these trains. The class was restricted to the London-Taunton-Plymouth (via both Bristol
and ) and London-Birmingham-Wolverhampton (via Bicester
) main lines, and even then, only after bridge strengthening had taken place, due to the engines' large boilers giving them a high axle weight of 22.5 LT. William Stanier
based his LMS Princess Royal Class
design on the King Class, but with an enlarged boiler and firebox necessitating a 4-6-2 wheel arrangement.
In 1947 experiments had been made with a four-row high-degree superheater in No. 6022 King Edward III, owing to a decline in the availability of high-calorific South Wales steam coal, on which the GWR had always relied for its good locomotive performance. During the 1948 locomotive exchanges, King Henry VI had performed disappointingly using Yorkshire coal, despite demonstrating the 4-6-0 type's unique sure-footedness when climbing out of Kings Cross, where pacific types were apt to slip alarmingly. After this, four-row superheaters were fitted to the class, and modifications were also made to the draughting arrangement, using No. 6001 King Edward VII as a test-bed. From September 1955 double blast-pipes and chimneys were fitted, initially to No. 6015 King Richard III. Following successful testing the whole of the class was subsequently modified and, as a result, their final years in British Railways ownership saw the very best of their performance, particularly on the steep South Devon banks at Dainton, Rattery, and Hemerdon.
They were all withdrawn in 1962, replaced by the western region's short lived diesel-hydraulic Western locomotives.
specification, to allow for maximum power creation and resultant speed. This restricted them as to where they could operate under both GWR and British Railways ownership. Developments in high-speed rail from the 1970s mean that ballast depths have increased, resulting in a decrease in loading gauge height in the UK. This has started to be reversed with the introduction of pan-European loading gauge standards on some lines.
The present result of these civil engineering changes is that an original King locomotive would not pass through various points of the modern Network Rail
system. Faced with a choice of either not operating their locomotives on the mainline or modifying to allow them to pass within the current UK loading gauge private societies choose to reduce the height of their locomotives by: reducing cab and chimney height and modifying some upper pipe work. The National Railway Museum, owners of 6000 King George V
, decided to keep this locomotive in its original condition and this restricts it to routes which have the original loading gauge, including preserved lines, however for various reasons it is a static exhibit only at present.
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
6000 Class or King is a class of 4-6-0
4-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles in a leading truck, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels. This wheel arrangement became the second-most popular...
steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
designed for express passenger work. With the exception of one Pacific (The Great Bear
GWR 111 The Great Bear
The Great Bear, number 111, was a locomotive of the Great Western Railway. It was the first 4-6-2 Pacific locomotive used on a railway in Great Britain, and the only one of that type ever built by the GWR.- History and operation :...
), they were the largest locomotives the GWR built. They were named after kings of the United Kingdom and of England, beginning with the reigning monarch, King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
, and going back through history. Following the death of King George V, the highest-numbered engine was renamed after his successor; and following the abdication of the latter, the next-highest engine was also renamed after the new King.
Background
This class was designed under the direction of C. B. CollettCharles Collett
Charles Benjamin Collett was chief mechanical engineer of the Great Western Railway from 1922 to 1941. He designed the GWR's 4-6-0 Castle and King Class express passenger locomotives.-Career:...
, as an enlarged version of Collett's Castle Class
GWR 4073 Class
The GWR 4073 Class or Castle class locomotives are a group of 4-6-0 steam locomotives of the Great Western Railway. They were originally designed by the railway's Chief Mechanical Engineer, Charles Collett, for working the company's express passenger trains.-History:A development of the earlier...
, which in turn was an enlargement of George Jackson Churchward
George Jackson Churchward
George Jackson Churchward CBE was Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Great Western Railway in the United Kingdom from 1902 to 1922.-Early career:...
's Star Class
GWR 4000 Class
A Star class locomotive was a particular type of steam locomotive of the Great Western Railway. The prototype was an experimental locomotive, North Star , constructed with the 'Atlantic' 4-4-2 wheel arrangement for comparative trials with 4-cylinder compound locomotives of the de Glehn type that...
. Churchward had proposed fitting the 6ft diameter boiler used on his 4700 Class
GWR 4700 Class
The Great Western Railway 4700 Class was a class of nine 2-8-0 steam locomotives, numbered 4700 through 4708. They were the final locomotives designed by George Jackson Churchward and were introduced in 1919–1921 for fast goods work...
2-8-0
2-8-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and no trailing wheels...
on to a 4-6-0
4-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles in a leading truck, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels. This wheel arrangement became the second-most popular...
chasis in 1919 to create a more powerful express locomotive, but had been prevented from doing so due to weight restrictions on several bridges on the GWR main line. Collet's Castle class of 1923 was therefore a compromise with a 5' 6" boiler. However, bridge strengthening and a better understanding of the impact of hammer blow
Hammer blow
Hammer blow, in rail terminology, refers to the vertical forces transferred to the track by the driving wheels of a steam locomotive and some diesel locomotives. The largest proportion of this is due to the unbalanced reciprocating motion, although the piston thrusts also contribute a portion to it...
on structures brought about by the work of the 'Bridge Stress Committee' set up by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research led to the relaxation of these restrictions.
The new design was partly to meet future traffic requirements, but was also a response to the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
publicity department's desire to regain the title of having the 'most powerful express passenger steam locomotive in Britain', which had been taken from the Castle Class in 1926 by the Southern Railway Lord Nelson Class
SR Lord Nelson Class
The SR class LN or Lord Nelson class is a type of 4-cylinder 4-6-0 steam locomotive designed for the Southern Railway by Richard Maunsell in 1926. They were intended for Continental boat trains between London and Dover harbour, but were also later used for express passenger work to the South-West...
. The engines, as originally designed, delivered 39700 lbf (176,594.4 N) tractive effort
Tractive effort
As used in mechanical engineering, the term tractive force is the pulling or pushing force exerted by a vehicle on another vehicle or object. The term tractive effort is synonymous with tractive force, and is often used in railway engineering to describe the pulling or pushing capability of a...
, with 16-inch bore by 28-inch stroke cylinders and 250 pound per square inches (1.72 MPa) boiler. At a request from Sir Felix Pole
Felix Pole
Sir Felix John Clewett Pole was a British railway manager and industrialist. He was general manager of the Great Western Railway , before becoming executive chairman of Associated Electrical Industries, a post he held until 1945.-References:...
, the Great Western
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
's General Manager, to get the tractive effort up to above 40,000 lbf (a major goalpost), the cylinders were enlarged to -inch bore, bringing the figure up to 40300 lbf (179,263.3 N). This increase was removed on all members of the class at their first major overhaul. The distinctive design of the leading bogie
Bogie
A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
(with outside bearings on the fore wheel and inside bearings on the rear wheel) was to allow for these larger cylinders.
The first, No. 6000 King George V
GWR 6000 Class 6000 King George V
thumb|right|6000 King George V at Swindon having just hauled the last King-hauled train from Wolverhampton and Birmingham Snow Hill . Note the bell which was given to the engine when it toured the U.S...
, appeared in 1927 and was sent on a tour of North America, for the Centenary celebrations of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
(B&O), where its sleek appearance and smooth performance impressed all who witnessed it. The application of pressurised oil lubrication showed its advantages over the largely grease-lubricated American Locomotives, and was even incorporated into a later design for the B&O in 1928. King George V was presented with a brass bell to mark the occasion. The original scheme for the Kings had been to name them after cathedrals, but when the US trip was planned it was felt that a more unmistakably British icon was needed. During planning and construction the engine was dubbed the 'Super-Castle'.
They were engines to be reckoned with, powering the Western Region
Western Region of British Railways
The Western Region was a region of British Railways from 1948. The region ceased to be an operating unit in its own right in the 1980s and was wound up at the end of 1992...
's crack expresses like the Cornish Riviera Limited
Cornish Riviera Express
The Cornish Riviera Express is a British express passenger train that has run between London and Penzance in Cornwall since 1904. Introduced by the Great Western Railway, the name Cornish Riviera Express has been applied to the late morning express train from London Paddington station to Penzance...
up until the end of regular steam hauled express services on the WR.
An interesting fact is that although the railway claimed that the class was built in response to longer and heavier trains, it was several years after its introduction before the platforms at the company's major stations were lengthened to accommodate these trains. The class was restricted to the London-Taunton-Plymouth (via both Bristol
Bristol Temple Meads railway station
Bristol Temple Meads railway station is the oldest and largest railway station in Bristol, England. It is an important transport hub for public transport in Bristol, with bus services to various parts of the city and surrounding districts, and a ferry service to the city centre in addition to the...
and ) and London-Birmingham-Wolverhampton (via Bicester
Bicester North railway station
Bicester North is a station on the Chiltern Main Line, one of two stations serving Bicester. Services operated by Chiltern Railways run south to and north to , and .Bicester North is the larger of Bicester's two stations...
) main lines, and even then, only after bridge strengthening had taken place, due to the engines' large boilers giving them a high axle weight of 22.5 LT. William Stanier
William Stanier
Sir William Arthur Stanier, FRS was Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway.- Biography :...
based his LMS Princess Royal Class
LMS Princess Royal Class
The London, Midland and Scottish Railway Princess Royal Class is a class of an express passenger steam locomotive designed by William Stanier. They were Pacifics...
design on the King Class, but with an enlarged boiler and firebox necessitating a 4-6-2 wheel arrangement.
In 1947 experiments had been made with a four-row high-degree superheater in No. 6022 King Edward III, owing to a decline in the availability of high-calorific South Wales steam coal, on which the GWR had always relied for its good locomotive performance. During the 1948 locomotive exchanges, King Henry VI had performed disappointingly using Yorkshire coal, despite demonstrating the 4-6-0 type's unique sure-footedness when climbing out of Kings Cross, where pacific types were apt to slip alarmingly. After this, four-row superheaters were fitted to the class, and modifications were also made to the draughting arrangement, using No. 6001 King Edward VII as a test-bed. From September 1955 double blast-pipes and chimneys were fitted, initially to No. 6015 King Richard III. Following successful testing the whole of the class was subsequently modified and, as a result, their final years in British Railways ownership saw the very best of their performance, particularly on the steep South Devon banks at Dainton, Rattery, and Hemerdon.
They were all withdrawn in 1962, replaced by the western region's short lived diesel-hydraulic Western locomotives.
Loco specification
| Boiler type | Number 12 | Boiler maximum dia. | 6 in 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Boiler minimum dia. | 5 foot | Fire tubes, no. and dia. | 171 x 2+1/4 in |
| Flue tubes, no. and dia. | 16 x 5+7/8 in | Superheater tubes, no. and dia. | 96 × 1 inches (25 mm) |
| Boiler pressure | 250 psi (1.72 MPa) | Boiler length | 16 in 0 in (4.88 m) |
| Area of firegrate | 34.3 square feet (3.2 m²) | Heating surfaces, tubes | 2008 square feet (186.5 m²) |
| Heating surfaces, firebox | 194 square feet (18 m²) | Heating surfaces, superheater | 313 square feet (29.1 m²) |
List of King Class locomotives
| No. | Name | Date built | Date Double Chimney | Date withdrawn | First shed | Last shed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6000 | King George V George V of the United Kingdom George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936.... |
Old Oak Common | Old Oak Common | Shipped to America August 1927 to join in Baltimore & Ohio Centenary celebrations. Presented with bell and cabside medallions. Alfloc water treatment fitted 1954. 1910424 miles (3,074,521.8 km) recorded on withdrawal. Restored by Bulmer's Railway Centre, Hereford. Preserved, National Railway Museum National Railway Museum The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001... , York York York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence... |
|||
| 6001 | King Edward VII Edward VII of the United Kingdom Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910... |
Old Oak Common | Wolverhampton, Stafford Road | Scrapped at Cox & Danks, Oldbury | |||
| 6002 | King William IV William IV of the United Kingdom William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death... |
Plymouth Laira | Wolverhampton, Stafford Road | 'Alfloc' water treatment fitted 1954. Scrapped at Cox & Danks, Oldbury | |||
| 6003 | King George IV George IV of the United Kingdom George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later... |
Old Oak Common | Cardiff Canton | Involved with incident at Midgham August 1927 when bogie derailed producing redesign of bogie springing on the whole of 'King' class. Scrapped by Swindon Works | |||
| 6004 | King George III George III of the United Kingdom George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death... |
Plymouth Laira | Old Oak Common | Scrapped by Swindon Works. | |||
| 6005 | King George II George II of Great Britain George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany... |
Old Oak Common | Old Oak Common | 'Alfloc' water treatment fitted 1954. Scrapped at Cashmore's, Great Bridge. | |||
| 6006 | King George I George I of Great Britain George I was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1 August 1714 until his death, and ruler of the Duchy and Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg in the Holy Roman Empire from 1698.... |
Plymouth Laira | Wolverhampton, Stafford Road | 'Alfloc' water treatment fitted 1954. Scrapped by Swindon Works. | |||
| 6007 | King William III William III of England William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland... |
Old Oak Common | Wolverhampton, Stafford Road | Severely damaged in Shrivenham collision 15 January 1936 and condemned 5 March 1936. Replacement 6007 King William III built March 1936 using some parts of the original engine. 'Alfloc' water treatment fitted 1954. Scrapped at Cox & Danks, Oldbury | |||
| 6008 | King James II James II of England James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland... |
Plymouth Laira | Wolverhampton, Stafford Road | 'Alfloc' water treatment fitted 1954. Scrapped by Swindon Works. | |||
| 6009 | King Charles II Charles II of England Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War... |
Old Oak Common | Old Oak Common | 'Alfloc' water treatment fitted 1954. Scrapped at Cashmore John Cashmore Ltd John Cashmore Ltd was a company based at Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales... 's, Newport. |
|||
| 6010 | King Charles I Charles I of England Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles... |
Plymouth Laira | Cardiff Canton | Scrapped by Swindon Works. | |||
| 6011 | King James I James I of England James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603... |
Old Oak Common | Old Oak Common | 'Alfloc' water treatment fitted 1954. 1718295 miles (2,765,320.9 km) recorded on withdrawal. Scrapped by Swindon Works. | |||
| 6012 | King Edward VI Edward VI of England Edward VI was the King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death. He was crowned on 20 February at the age of nine. The son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, Edward was the third monarch of the Tudor dynasty and England's first monarch who was raised as a Protestant... |
Newton Abbot | Wolverhampton, Stafford Road | 'Alfloc' water treatment fitted 1954. Scrapped at Cox & Danks, Oldbury | |||
| 6013 | King Henry VIII Henry VIII of England Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France... |
Old Oak Common | Wolverhampton, Stafford Road | 'Alfloc' water treatment fitted 1954. Scrapped by Swindon Works | |||
| 6014 | King Henry VII Henry VII of England Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor.... |
Newton Abbot | Wolverhampton, Stafford Road | Fitted with streamlining from March 1935, but all removed by January 1943 except for 'v'-shaped cab. 'Alfloc' water treatment fitted 1954. 1830386 miles (2,945,713.4 km) on withdrawal. Scrapped at Cox & Danks, Oldbury | |||
| 6015 | King Richard III Richard III of England Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty... |
Old Oak Common | Wolverhampton, Stafford Road | 'Alfloc' water treatment fitted 1954. Scrapped at Cox & Danks, Oldbury. | |||
| 6016 | King Edward V Edward V of England Edward V was King of England from 9 April 1483 until his deposition two months later. His reign was dominated by the influence of his uncle Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who succeeded him as Richard III... |
Plymouth Laira | Wolverhampton, Stafford Road | 'Alfloc' water treatment fitted 1954. Scrapped at Cox & Danks, Oldbury | |||
| 6017 | King Edward IV Edward IV of England Edward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England... |
Old Oak Common | Wolverhampton, Stafford Road | 'Alfloc' water treatment fitted 1954. Scrapped at Cox & Danks, Oldbury | |||
| 6018 | King Henry VI Henry VI of England Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars... |
Plymouth Laira | Cardiff Canton | Re-instated to work last King journey under BR from Birmingham via Southall to Swindon. Scrapped by Swindon Works | |||
| 6019 | King Henry V Henry V of England Henry V was King of England from 1413 until his death at the age of 35 in 1422. He was the second monarch belonging to the House of Lancaster.... |
Wolverhampton, Stafford Road | Wolverhampton, Stafford Road | Scrapped at Cashmore John Cashmore Ltd John Cashmore Ltd was a company based at Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales... 's, Newport. |
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| 6020 | King Henry IV Henry IV of England Henry IV was King of England and Lord of Ireland . He was the ninth King of England of the House of Plantagenet and also asserted his grandfather's claim to the title King of France. He was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, hence his other name, Henry Bolingbroke... |
Plymouth Laira | Wolverhampton, Stafford Road | 'Alfloc' water treatment fitted 1954. Scrapped at Cox & Danks, Oldbury. | |||
| 6021 | King Richard II Richard II of England Richard II was King of England, a member of the House of Plantagenet and the last of its main-line kings. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince, and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III... |
Old Oak Common | Old Oak Common | Scrapped at Cashmore John Cashmore Ltd John Cashmore Ltd was a company based at Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales... 's, Newport. |
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| 6022 | King Edward III Edward III of England Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe... |
Plymouth Laira | Wolverhampton, Stafford Road | 'Alfloc' water treatment fitted 1954. Scrapped at Cox & Danks, Oldbury. | |||
| 6023 | King Edward II Edward II of England Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II... |
Newton Abbot | Old Oak Common | Acquired by Woodham's, Barry in December 1962. One pair of driving wheels deliberately cut to enable shunting within the scrap yard. Sold to Brunel Trust, Bristol Temple Meads and left as the 159th departure from Barry December 1984. After protracted preservation (with new driving wheels having been cast; the only steam locomotive in preservation to have received such treatment), the locomotive was restored and and entered traffic with an official launch ceremony at Didcot Didcot Railway Centre Didcot Railway Centre, located in the town of Didcot in the English county of Oxfordshire, is based around the site of a comprehensive "engine shed" which became redundant after the nationalisation of the UK railways, due to the gradual changeover from steam to diesel motive power.-Description:The... on 2 April 2011. |
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| 6024 | King Edward I Edward I of England Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons... |
Plymouth Laira | Cardiff Canton | Acquired by Woodham's, Barry in December 1962. Sold to Quainton Road, Bucks and left as the 36th departure from Barry March 1973. Preserved, owned and operated by the 6024 Preservation Society. | |||
| 6025 | King Henry III Henry III of England Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready... |
Old Oak Common | Old Oak Common | Scrapped by Swindon Works. | |||
| 6026 | King John John of England John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death... |
Old Oak Common | Old Oak Common | Scrapped by Swindon Works. | |||
| 6027 | King Richard I Richard I of England Richard I was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death. He also ruled as Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Count of Nantes, and Overlord of Brittany at various times during the same period... |
Old Oak Common | Wolverhampton, Stafford Road | Scrapped at Cox & Danks, Oldbury. | |||
| 6028 | King George VI George VI of the United Kingdom George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death... |
Old Oak Common | Cardiff Canton | Originally built as King Henry II Henry II of England Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the... , renamed January 1937. 1663271 miles (2,676,768.6 km) at withdrawal. Scrapped at Bird's, Newport. Involved in Norton Fitzwarren rail crash (1940) Norton Fitzwarren rail crash (1940) The Norton Fitzwarren rail crash occurred on 4 November 1940 between Taunton and Norton Fitzwarren in the English county of Somerset, when the driver of a train misunderstood the signalling and track layout, causing him to drive the train through a set of points and off the rails. 27 people were... ; severely damaged but repaired. |
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| 6029 | King Edward VIII Edward VIII of the United Kingdom Edward VIII was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, and Emperor of India, from 20 January to 11 December 1936.Before his accession to the throne, Edward was Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay... |
Old Oak Common | Old Oak Common | Originally built as King Stephen Stephen of England Stephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda... , renamed May 1936. Scrapped at Cashmore John Cashmore Ltd John Cashmore Ltd was a company based at Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales... 's, Newport |
Preservation
Under GWR operations, the King class were designed to the maximum mainline loading gaugeLoading gauge
A loading gauge defines the maximum height and width for railway vehicles and their loads to ensure safe passage through bridges, tunnels and other structures...
specification, to allow for maximum power creation and resultant speed. This restricted them as to where they could operate under both GWR and British Railways ownership. Developments in high-speed rail from the 1970s mean that ballast depths have increased, resulting in a decrease in loading gauge height in the UK. This has started to be reversed with the introduction of pan-European loading gauge standards on some lines.
The present result of these civil engineering changes is that an original King locomotive would not pass through various points of the modern Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
system. Faced with a choice of either not operating their locomotives on the mainline or modifying to allow them to pass within the current UK loading gauge private societies choose to reduce the height of their locomotives by: reducing cab and chimney height and modifying some upper pipe work. The National Railway Museum, owners of 6000 King George V
GWR 6000 Class 6000 King George V
thumb|right|6000 King George V at Swindon having just hauled the last King-hauled train from Wolverhampton and Birmingham Snow Hill . Note the bell which was given to the engine when it toured the U.S...
, decided to keep this locomotive in its original condition and this restricts it to routes which have the original loading gauge, including preserved lines, however for various reasons it is a static exhibit only at present.
| Number | Image | Name | Owner | Current location | Current status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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GWR 6000 Class 6000 King George V thumb|right|6000 King George V at Swindon having just hauled the last King-hauled train from Wolverhampton and Birmingham Snow Hill . Note the bell which was given to the engine when it toured the U.S... |
National Railway Museum The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001... |
National Railway Museum The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001... |
On static display. Only original King | |
GWR 6000 Class 6023 King Edward II Great Western Railway 6000 Class 6023 King Edward II is a preserved steam locomotive.The locomotive was built at GWR's Swindon works in June 1930. For most of its working life it was allocated to Newton Abbott and Laira . It was withdrawn from Cardiff in June 1962, and was sent to Swindon for... |
Didcot Railway Centre Didcot Railway Centre, located in the town of Didcot in the English county of Oxfordshire, is based around the site of a comprehensive "engine shed" which became redundant after the nationalisation of the UK railways, due to the gradual changeover from steam to diesel motive power.-Description:The... |
Operational | |||
GWR 6000 Class 6024 King Edward I Great Western Railway 6000 Class 6024 King Edward I is a preserved steam locomotive.The locomotive was 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... |
Jeremy Hosking Jeremy J. Hosking is a British businessman, a co-founder and investment portfolio manager for private investment fund Marathon. Hosking is also well known for his extensive collection of steam locomotives, and 25% share holding in Crystal Palace F.C.... |
Didcot Railway Centre Didcot Railway Centre, located in the town of Didcot in the English county of Oxfordshire, is based around the site of a comprehensive "engine shed" which became redundant after the nationalisation of the UK railways, due to the gradual changeover from steam to diesel motive power.-Description:The... |
Operational, main line certified | ||