King
Edward II Project
King Edward II is a Great Western Railway (GWR) heavy express steam locomotive, one of only three surviving members of this class of loco. Introduced in the 1920s for taking express trains over the steep gradients (banks) of South Devon, the Kings were withdrawn in the early 1960s as diesel locomotives replaced them. King Edward II (a.k.a. 6023) spent many years rotting at Barry Scrapyard, and had her rear driving wheels cut through with an oxy-acetylene torch after a shunting accident. This site tells the long story of her restoration...
See NEWS : 6023 was the star of the GCR's Winter Gala 25th-27th January 2013 and was subsequently named and plated there as 6015 King Richard III . 6023 returned home to Didcot in the first week of May, and has been the co-star (with our Steam Railmotor) of the 'Rovers' Return' weekend, 4th, 5th & 6th May, celebrating the return to Didcot of two of the GWS's most important recent restorations. Work is now progressing on preparing 6023 for mainline running, which involves the installation of modern electronic aids and the reduction of the height of the loco by four inches (10cm). New bonnets have been trial fitted, one of which is of the required reduced height.
Photograph with kind permission of Duncan Langtree
Through June & July 2011, 6023 was based at Dereham on the Mid-Norfolk Railway for running-in, including their Steam Gala weekend of the 16th-17th July 2011
Photo by Richard Varley
6023 was in steam publicly for the first time on 2nd & 3rd APRIL 2011 at Didcot Railway Centre.
Photo
from HD video by Richard Varley
Photo
by Richard Varley
See Trial & Launch link for many more pictures of our (largely) completed work...
Colour Photo by Phil Neale
All a long way from
this....jpg)
Oil Painting by Richard Varley