The last Castles

The same few Castles in lovely condition turn up in photos, so I'm wondering if anyone has analised the final few overhauls and their allocation and use. Worcester seems to have been one of the last strongholds.


(feel free to borrow the concept for other classes, in another thread)

 

That makes sense, Wasn't the Cathedrals Express pretty much the last express turn for them ?.

 

Yes and other Worcester/Hereford services. Followed them all the time at Reading back in 63/64 with the odd Modified Hall "interloper" 7928 was favourite.
Steam had a slight stay of execution on these services. The "official conversion" to diesel was due at the start of the winter service in September 1963, but due to various reasons, one I think was that the Hymeks were required back on the South Wales services due to the Westerns being partially withdrawn with axle cracking problems. Seems steam finally gave up in late April 1964, much to our disgust at the time.

 

not really what I'm asking, I'm asking about the last overhauls and what they went on to do.

 

The last four - 5042, 7022/29/34 saw out their days at 85B - Gloucester Horton Road. No express workings by then but various turns including goods, local passenger, station pilot and railtours. All but 7029 were out of service mid 1965.

 

travelled behind 7029 clun castle in the summer of 1965 when it was allocated to Gloucester on the very early morning(about 4.30 or 5am] to Cardiff many trips.

 

Just answering david1984's question.

 

Some were larger, even faster but the Castles were the Astin Martins OR Corvettes of Englands rails. Late overhauls did not appear to dictate which ones survived. Treasure the few left.

 

"analised? what here on Nash Prez? - sounds painful.

Cheerz,

Alan

 

I well remember seeing 7029 regularly at the time at Cardiff General on what I understood to have been the Gloucester parcels.
On my commute from Barry Island it was by this time usually the only steam seen.

 

I agree. that's what I'm asking...which ones were the last to receive full overhauls and how were they used. It's pretty well known which ones were the last survivors in traffic and which ones were preserved, I'm looking for a different dimension.

 

Yes, come on, own up... Who's had a Castle hidden up their bottom for the last 50-odd years? You know who you are!

Richard.

 

"The Book of the Castles" will have all the relevant information. Written before the later GWR class books of this series became Southern biased and lacked the great and detailed introductions. Such a pity.

 

i checked Amazon and Ebay , I suspect that book is long out of print, so I'm none the wiser. I did learn a great deal about literature concerning half derelict old buildings though

 

A couple of second hand ones, one is 35 quid plus postage though.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-l...g_used_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=used&qid=&sr=

 

You could try the Pen & Sword volume :

https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/British-Steam-GWR-Collett-Castle-Class-Hardback/p/9800

 

Does it contain shopping dates? I've yet to see any book that does.
171 Castles built but they didn't all exist at the same time. 100A1 Lloyds (aka Shooting Star) and possibly others, was withdrawn before the last example was built.

 

The Book of the Warships and Peto's Registers (Kings, Manors and 48xx and 58xx) all spring to mind for shopping dates, the first for certain and the last 3 I think, I am at work! It's all been downhill since those last 3.

 

This site is pretty good, a bit long winded but if you type a Castle number in it gives a pretty comprehensive history of that particular locomotive. Works dates, allocations, tenders etc.

http://www.brdatabase.info/index.php