The final development of Churchward's Star class and Collett's Castles, the Kings were the most powerful locomotives on the Great Western Railway, and for several years the most powerful passenger engines in the country.
6023 “King Edward II” emerged from Swindon Works in June 1930 and spent all its life until the last year or so allocated to Newton Abbot and Laira (Plymouth). Withdrawn from Cardiff in June 1962, it was returned to Swindon for breaking up. Coupled to its twin 6024 “King Edward I”, from which it had rarely been separated throughout its working life, it was given one last unusual job - to be towed dead over a bridge for weight testing purposes. This miraculously resulted in both engines being dumped in Woodham Bros. Barry yard instead of being hauled back to Swindon.
There they remained, coupled together, until 6024 was saved in 1974, leaving 6023, whose wheels had been cut through after a derailment. As their contribution to celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of the GWR's formation in 1985, Messrs Harveys of Bristol bought the hulk and moved it to Temple Meads station. Subsequently they released it to the Society, who brought it to Didcot in 1990.
The locomotive has already had its single chimney design restored and is well on its way to return to working order with only work on the boiler to be undertaken. It is anticipated that the locomotive will steam for the first time in preservation in 2010.
Click on any of the pictures on this page for a larger version.
| Wheel Arrangement | 4 - 6 - 0 |
| Cylinders | (4) 16.25 x 28 inches |
| Driving wheel diameter | 6 feet 6 inches |
| Tractive Effort | 40,300 pounds |
| Weight | 135 tons 5 cwt. |
| Coal Capacity | 6 Tons |
| Water Capacity | 4,000 gallons |
| Route Availability | Double Red |
| Power Class |
| Boiler type | |
| Boiler pressure | 250 lbs/sq in |
| Barrel maximum dia. | |
| Barrel length | |
| Area of firegrate | |
| Heating surfaces, firebox | |
| Heating surfaces, tubes | |
| Superheater Area | |
More information: Locomotive Project Web Site >>
The Great Western Society is not responsible for the content of external web sites