Clun Castle on show at Tyseley open day

The boiler of No. 7029 Clun Castle about to be lowered into the frames on June 11, with No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester on the adjacent road.



Celebrated ‘Castle’ 4-6-0 No. 7029 Clun Castle is set to be one of the stars of the show at Tyseley Locomotive Works’ forthcoming open weekend – having had its boiler returned to the frames on June 11.

The locomotive is expected to be back in steam later this year and make its keenly anticipated return to the main line next spring, said Alastair Meanley, the workshop and Clun Castle project manager.

The youngest surviving ‘Castle’, 1950-built No. 7029 achieved fame towards the end of its BR career with its record-breaking run from Plymouth to Bristol in 1964, and a string of historic ‘last trains’ and enthusiast specials. It went on to become one of the first steam locomotives to return to the main line in 1972, after BR relaxed its steam ban.

Last steamed in 2001, Clun Castle has been under overhaul at Tyseley since 2010.

It will be on display at the open weekend of June 25/26, alongside operational sister No. 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, ‘Hall’ No. 4965 Rood Ashton Hall, pannier tanks Nos. L92 (7752) and 9600, and LMS ‘Pacific’ No. 6201 Princess Elizabeth.

With access to the workshops, several other locomotives will be on show, including LMS ‘Jubilees’ Nos. 5593 Kolhapur and 45596 Bahamas, Riddles ‘8P’ 4-6-2 No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester, and GWR 2-8-0 No. 2885.

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