6023 King Edward 11

suppose the next milestone will be all three Lined up tpgether GW Green. BR Green, BR Blue, no doubt accompanied by a 'we three kings...' strapline...

 

I'm intending to be there - big question at the moment is whether I bring either/both of my sons with me. On one hand it would be nice for them to be at such a groundbreaking moment, but on the other hand they are pretty young and probably won't appreciate standing around listening to speeches! I'm tending towards going on my own (for the first time in ages) and just having a peaceful day inhaling steam and enjoying the atmosphere. I can then bring the kids back at Easter to see both of them together.

As for the line up - unlikely 6000 and 6024 are both in BR Green and 6023's BR Blue is likely to be shortlived so unless 6024 gets a very rapid overhaul and repaint, before 6023 goes GWR Green the chance won't arise. (That's before anyone gets worked up about a double chimney King in GWR green!).

 

I will be there on Saturday with my Father. Can't wait to see 6023 in action.

 

I'll be there, with my wife and kiddies. Should be a memorable day Saturday .

 

Got my Steam Railway and there are a some great pictures and I love the poster. Shows all the reasons why I love Express Blue shame its not going to be on longer. Sadly I won't be at Didcot this weekend.

 

Very interesting item on 6023 on Meridian news tonight, interviews with Dennis Howells & Richard Croucher. Also some archive views & the old wheelset shown. Interesting to note it has red backed nameplates.

http://www.itv.com/meridian-west/

Just over 20 minutes in.

Edit, doesn't seem the whole programme is available to view yet.

 

It's there now, that's a very good feature, and the blue looks amazing :hail: :tongue1: :thumb: :biggrin1:

 

You are right, you have to click on "Full Programme" near the top.

 

Stunning.........

 

Cannot wait to see 6023, she looks absolutely grand!

Lewis

 

What a magnificent sight! Hopefully I will be able to see this amazing locomotive later this year. It really is a credit to steam locomotive restoration. Generally I thought the media interpretation of 6023 was very good, only marred slightly by the anchor man saying "King Edward the Seventh" at the end! It was clear however that he was more than just interested in this particular news clip!

 

They were shown in undercoat in the shed, and the lighting gave the colour a reddish tinge. Plates are black for sure - not red!

Thanks for the link. Whetted the appetite for tomorrow now...

 

Thanks for the link. A beautiful sight!

 

Do we know if 6023 will be displayed in the 1950 ex works position down the side of the running shed, as per the picture in SR a month or so ago?

Hopefully Didcot will do us proud and pull some of the other engines out of the shed and place them around the site.

Great Western.

 

It looks like they already brought 5051 out for some sun. Plus 5043 and 4965 are going to be there!

 

I must admit I’m a little confused regarding the whole Gloss/Eggshell/Matt smokebox thing so any information posters have would be greatly appreciated. With 6023s and 3850s Smokebox’s very much Matt Black, what would actually be correct for a ex Works loco straight out of Swindon Paint shops? I’ve noticed the smokeboxes on 5043 and 5051 (Which has the same BR Early Crest) have a very High Gloss finish. Also 4965, 9017 and 4566 all share the same High gloss finish. I’ve notice its not just a GWR thing either with Riley’s Locos having a Eggshell/Matt finish to the smoke boxes while locos like 48151, 46115,43106 etc. have a Gloss Finish to at least the Smokebox doors. I must stress this is more curiosity than anything else and is in noway critism of the above locos.

 

Here is a photo of 5043 ex-Swindon Works in 1962, which looks very glossy.

http://www.shakespeareexpress.com/tlw/images/5043_sdn_dp_v.jpg

Hard to be certain here, but it looks like the newly-built Kings had matt-black smokeboxes: http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/HJ4599-001/Hulton-Archive

 

Here's the same lineup from ground level and it looks as if the smokeboxes were gloss and the door matt. Which seems a bit odd so I should think it's just a trick of the light.

Just had a quick look through Nocks 'The GWR Stars, Castles & Kings' and there's a photo of 6029 brand new at Swindon and the smokebox and door are definitely matt.

 

just back from didcot what a great day out lots of people around the king looked great and ran well looking forward now the the double header on easter sat with 6024;hope it will be as busy for didcot ;
all the best
jane;

 

I can only agree with Jane. I was a little apprehensive about seeing 'King Edward II' for the first time in blue
but wow, that's a very distinctive and smart locomotive. I can remember seeing 6023 arrive at the fish dock
at Bristol TM in 1985, thinking ''no chance''. How nice it is to be proved wrong. <BJ>