Nunney Castle

7027s boiler apparently needs a new front tube plate and smoke box.

Taken from the most recent GWS Echo which landed today where they have finally acknowledged again that the 47xx project exists after a rather prolonged silence on the subject.

 

5029 was a pretty gutsy performer when we travelled behind her on a number of Past Time Rail tours in the early 2000's.
We had some really cracking runs with Nunney and she rapidly became my favourite member of the Castle Class. I recall she put in two excellent trips to Worcester; 5029 appeared as 7007 for one of them. My Dad won the charity raffle on that excursion and his prize was a very heavy replica 7007 smoke box door number plate.
5029 also put in a valiant solo performance on the return trip of one of the excellent doubleheaders to the West Country she hauled with 5051 (I can't remember the date). 5051 failed with a hot box found during servicing so 5029 had to haul the return journey on her own. 5029 and her crews really did their best with a heavy load on the drawbar. IIRC 5029 almost made it back to Bristol but sadly she failed with steaming problems on the outskirts. She always provided a glorious soundtrack.

It will be very interesting to see how she performs after the boiler tweaks during this current overhaul. As long as she goes as well and sounds as good as she used to.
Below is a video of what is still my favourite ever trip over the Watercress Line hauled by 5029 in 2014. On the final departure of the day from Alton 5029 thunders up the bank in fine style. The sound and performance from 5029 was superb.




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But why did the former owners sell off the S/H header? It suggests that they had no intention of running 7027.

 

I think 5051 & 5029 have become swapped in your memory of the double header ex Penzance. It was 5029 which was left at PZ with a hotbox and 5051 + a Cl 47 which worked the train back to Bristol.

 

Your post got me to do a bit of research as I was questioning my own memory.
Six bells junction provided the answers.
The excursion I am referring to is The Devonian from May 2003. 5051 failed at Plymouth. 5029 continued with a Class 47 assisting (I forgot about the Class 47). Six Bells Jct also says that 5029 only went back to Exeter St Davids but I thought it returned to Bristol.
https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/00s/030503pr.htm

The trip you are referring to was The Penzance Castles, a two day rail tour in May 2002. 5029 failed on a positioning move for the second day. There were also two Class 50's involved and one of these also failed. 5051 hauled the return trip with one of the Class 50's taking the place of 5029.
https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/00s/020506pt.htm

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