If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

The last Castles

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by Reading General, Jul 5, 2017.

  1. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    May 18, 2011
    Messages:
    6,081
    Likes Received:
    2,217
    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)
     
  2. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 13, 2005
    Messages:
    12,910
    Likes Received:
    1,387
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Birmingham
    That makes sense, Wasn't the Cathedrals Express pretty much the last express turn for them ?.
     
  3. buseng

    buseng Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2005
    Messages:
    4,799
    Likes Received:
    349
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Tilehurst, Reading, Berks.
    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one I think was that the Hymeks were required back on the South Wales services due to the Westerns being partially withdrawn with axle cracking problems.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.
     
  4. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    May 18, 2011
    Messages:
    6,081
    Likes Received:
    2,217
    not really what I'm asking, I'm asking about the last overhauls and what they went on to do.
     
  5. 1472

    1472 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2008
    Messages:
    1,898
    Likes Received:
    2,517
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    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.
     
  6. billbedford

    billbedford Member Friend

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2015
    Messages:
    287
    Likes Received:
    326
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    retired
    Location:
    bedford
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    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.
     
  7. buseng

    buseng Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2005
    Messages:
    4,799
    Likes Received:
    349
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Tilehurst, Reading, Berks.
    Just answering david1984's question.
     
  8. R.W. Grant

    R.W. Grant New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2016
    Messages:
    73
    Likes Received:
    63
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired machinist
    Location:
    north central Pennsylvania usa
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    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.
     
    paullad1984 likes this.
  9. ragl

    ragl Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2010
    Messages:
    1,749
    Likes Received:
    1,637
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Consultant Engineer
    Location:
    Shropshire
    "analised? what here on Nash Prez? - sounds painful.

    Cheerz,

    Alan
     
  10. GW 5972

    GW 5972 New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2015
    Messages:
    121
    Likes Received:
    90
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    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.
     
  11. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    May 18, 2011
    Messages:
    6,081
    Likes Received:
    2,217
    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.
     
  12. Richard Roper

    Richard Roper Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 22, 2006
    Messages:
    1,310
    Likes Received:
    1,355
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Librarian
    Location:
    Just up the road from 56E Sowerby Bridge
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    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.
     
    Matt37401 likes this.
  13. MG 7305

    MG 7305 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2009
    Messages:
    122
    Likes Received:
    153
    "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.
     
  14. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    May 18, 2011
    Messages:
    6,081
    Likes Received:
    2,217
    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
     
    Matt37401 likes this.
  15. buseng

    buseng Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2005
    Messages:
    4,799
    Likes Received:
    349
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Tilehurst, Reading, Berks.
  16. Fred Kerr

    Fred Kerr Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2006
    Messages:
    8,239
    Likes Received:
    5,250
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Freelance photo - journalist
    Location:
    Southport
  17. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    May 18, 2011
    Messages:
    6,081
    Likes Received:
    2,217
    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.
     
  18. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2006
    Messages:
    16,510
    Likes Received:
    7,753
    Location:
    1012 / 60158
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    What happened to the Swindon works records? Did they go to Kew, or York?
     
  19. MG 7305

    MG 7305 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2009
    Messages:
    122
    Likes Received:
    153
    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.
     
  20. buseng

    buseng Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2005
    Messages:
    4,799
    Likes Received:
    349
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Tilehurst, Reading, Berks.
    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
     

Share This Page