6023 King Edward 11

Fourthed (is that a word?!), great pics. Currently watching a video of mainline steam in 1998 and there's a sequence of GWR mogul 7325 hauling 10 coaches unassisted on a circular trip to Chester. Struck me that this is also archive and unlikely to be repeated, 80079, 2968 & even 1450 were out on the mainline then as well. I think the SVR had 5 mainline registered locos that year if you include 48773 & 60009. None of these smaller locos will have a mainline ticket again as it's not viable to fit all the tech (unless they end up at Tyesley of course!).

 

I'll have a look at those when I get home; it's a great archive of stuff, some nice clips of 80079 working hard and 8233.

Well done to all those involved with 6023, I'm looking forward to seeing it on the Valley in September.

 

All the SVR clips on Youtube by 'shez5690' are well worth watching. It's not quite PSOV (no disrespect to shez5690) but there are some staggering performances recorded on there from the late '80s and '90s. It coincides with my earliest visits to the Valley galas (1990 aged 7!) so I find them quite nostalgic!

 

Just drop them off with a bag of cash and we will be very happy to oblige!

 

Congratulations to Dennis and the team. This restoration has to be up there with the best of the Barry rebuilds.....some of the achievements are incredible and I am looking forward to seeing the engine.

Please paint her green soon!

 

I guess she'll be green in time, but for the moment, she will look breathtaking in blue.

 

I agree. She'll turn green one day, but for the foreseeable Blue is her unique selling point.

 

I think it's quite an under-rated livery; it looks very smart on 60007.

 

If the colour of the cab interior is anything to go by, i dont think she's intended to remain Blue long term. I guess time will tell, i really dont mind either way.

Chris

 

Chris, saying on Nat Pres that you don't mind either way which livery a loco wears is tantamount to heresy!!
Seriously though congrats to all the people who have put their time and money into getting 6023 back into working order.


Now that is beautiful.

 

The return to steam of 6023 marks another significant milestone. By my reckoning, it is the 100th GWR locomotive to return to steam and move under its own power in the preservation era. Only another 44 or so to go.... Of these 17 or so are under active restoration, and a further 10 have been restored cosmetically.

David

 

There is a school of thought which says "ANYTHING" is beautiful compared to BR Brunswick Green or Lined Black!!

This is a superb restoration job and congratulations are due to all involved!

 

Just like to add my congratulations on her restoration. Everytime I've been to Didcot over the years, I always rush over and see how she is progressing. To every man and women involved you have done an amazing job on restoring her back to full health. She should be laughing inside everytime she passes her torched wheel set!

Shall be renewing my bankers order for donations tomorrow again.

Couple of food for thought questions which may be off topic and far to earlier to speculate, especially with point 2!, so sorry if they are and I'll remove the post.

1) Currently 6024 will be at the MHR for the Spring Gala. As she only heads to lines with mainline connections, what would the chances be of her returning via Didcot from the MHR for April 2nd if her base is at Bristol? Subject to her winter maintenance and boiler inspection of course.

2) Now this is a sensitive one having read many threads on the matter. Currently the support coach, which I assume will be the one 5051 used to use, is currently in Chocolate & Cream. Inspired by the picture on the previous page of the thread, what about a re-paint into Crimson and Cream?

 

Yes, well done for her, and I hope the Traffic dept remember to roster the Crimson and Cream set with her when 6023 visits the SVR for the ASG. Camera time , I think.

 

Sheer heresy perhaps, but I sincerely believe that all the 8P locos and the Kings looked at their best in that livery, with that coach combination. I'm not old enough to have seen them wear it (by far!) but most of my grandfather's collection is set around that period, and picking out the colour slides, the blue really does look gorgeous. My favourite of the BR liveries by far, and 6023 will look magnificent.

 

Heresy yes........ but to be honest for the joy of seeing her back in steam they can paint her pink as far as I am concerned!

 

She will look magnificent. It's great to have variety and she will be green later. I predict that that when she is finally completed the vast majority of people will approve of 6023 in blue. It will also be authentic.

 

Not heresy at all. Both loco and carriage liveries are very smart. It's a shame they didn't wear better.

 

I do hope they can double up the green and the blue ones before 6024 goes goes in for overhaul.

 

As a Southerner, I believe a blue King is much better than a green one . Its something completely different. Now for an unrebuilt Merchant Navy and a Princess Coronation in BR blue, and we have a good selection of 8P motive power in that livery...