4079 Pendennis Castle

Steam lance valves seem to have been at 4 o'clock up until 1926. There are photos in Russell (p152) showing them on 5006, 4076 & 4081, and in Cox "Chronicles of Steam" on 5000 at Carlisle. See also photos at Railonline https://www.rail-online.co.uk/p721368492/hD5626BDA#hd5625449.

The things that look like smokebox door clips are visible on various photos of the exchange, but I haven't seen them anywhere else. One might speculate there was an issue in the very early days that was later sorted with an improved design.

 

Thank you.

 

Not mine and lifted from the DRC newsletter received via email this morning (apols cannot credit photographer as the newsletter doesn't)...

 

Great effort to the G.W.S. team at Didcot railway centre getting 4079 Pendennis castle back in running order again shame though it cant run on the mainline, still be a crowd puller and money spinner visiting galas and other heritage lines on the good side of its future running.
Davo 56F

 

I trust a copy of this magnificent photograph has gone to Rio Tinto Group who now own Pilbara who manage the assets for Hamersley Iron Pty, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto Zinc (well that is what Wikipedia says, I think!). Congratulations to all concerned at Didcot and the GWS, I had the privilege of servicing 4079 at Didcot, and then travelling behind her on her last run in the UK, in 1977. All the information I have says 4079 was completely worn out when she returned to the UK and Didcot and the GWS have restored/rectified/replaced as appropriate. This being no simple achievement. This is simply stunning.

 

It is quite a stunning achievement, and with the Saint, goes to show that Didcot and the GWS is well worth a visit.

 

I am surprised how much narrower the steam pipes are than the cladding that we normally see.

 

I think we need a Pendennis Castle/Flying Scotsman event before the latter's ticket runs out. These two have a history together of remarkable meetings including one across the pond.

Well done to the GWS for their work putting 4079 back together.

 

Last time on the main line ?


Back in ’77 there was a rather more relaxed attitude to enjoying the sight and sound of main line steam. A scene far from palisade fencing and bars at windows, 4079 storms out of Banbury on 27th May 1977.

 

Some sort of event in 2023 maybe? But maybe not in North London?

 

I was at Didcot that day. Just started working in the C & W Dept a few weeks before, and still do work in the C & W Dept

 

Here are some pictures I took of Pendennis Castle at Didcot over the weekend. She was in light steam with about 100lbs on the clock, and the whistle was blown periodically

 

I'm assuming the lack of lining on the loco itself is because it hasn't been done yet, and not becasue an unlined loco with lined tender is how the GWR actually turned them out...?

 

So was I. Warwick Ormandy and I were completing the restoration of 3738 at that time. Here are a couple of photo's of me coaling 4079 before her return North. As part of the servicing crew I was raking out the ashpan through the rear damper door. As I was doing this someone on the footplate took the opportunity to check the water level in the boiler by opening the blow-through cock and I nearly lost my face to the steam coming out of the drain. I switched to the footplate in double quick time and gave my first ever health and safety lecture to a very surprised crew and inspector on the subject of not touching ANYTHING when people were working underneath.

 

She is not far from completion. However there are a few minor things that need to be sorted out mechanically, before she can run. And of course she needs to be fully painted and lined out, before the launch date which will be next year now

 

WOW a blast from the past. I had not long started in the C & W Dept at the time. My nickname still is Red Boy

 

Well you both beat me by a few years, but I remember Red Boy even though we mostly work in different areas on site. I spent most of my time on loco maint, but had regular contact with C&W when shunting duties required it.

I was at the first anni event a few weeks ago. Glad to see a few faces I recognised still around (John and Edward in the diesel shunters, and Maurice and Anne also driving. Tim still painting fences on the branch line (Forth Bridge type of job!)).

 

Is there still plans to mainline the engine or was that sacked off?

 

Not in the short term I believe.

 

I think last year or 2019 they said they had pulled the plug on mainline running for the likes of 4079, 6023 and the new builds.