Easter At The Didcot Railway Centre 2024

WELCOME TO DIDCOT RAILWAY CENTRE
Explore the unique collection of Great Western
Railway steam locomotives, carriages, wagons,
buildings and small-artefacts at our 27 acre living
museum set around the original 1932 Engine shed
On Friday 29th March, we saw 4144 - 41XX CLASS operating on the main demonstration line alongside 2409 - KING GEORGE working the smaller branch line.
We also saw 08604 - 'PHANTOM' shunting locos in the yard (as well as dragging them….literally!).
We also take a look around the Centre to see all the other static locomotives and displays.
4144 was built at Swindon in September 1946 and, having spent time as the Severn Tunnel banker, was withdrawn from Severn Tunnel Junction depot in March 1965. The locomotive was sent to Woodham Bros. of Barry for cutting up but survived until it was bought jointly by the Society and one of its members in 1974.
The rebuild was completed in 1997 and 4144 was used on the ‘Steam on the Met’ in 1998.
The locomotive had its boiler removed for overhaul in August 2010 and officially re-entered service on 2 May 2015. As well as use at Didcot the locomotive visited the Severn Valley Railway in 2019 and the Kent and East Sussex Railway in 2020.
Status
Operational
Build date
1946
Built at
Swindon
Wheel arrangement
2-6-2T
Route availability
Blue
Barrel diameter
6 feet
Barrel length
11 feet
Boiler pressure
200 lbs/sq in
Boiler type
Standard No. 2
Coal capacity
4 tons
Cylinders
(2) 18 x 30 inches
Heating surfaces, firebox
121.8 sq ft
Firegrate
20.6 sq ft
Power class
D
Superheater area
82.3 sq ft
Tractive effort
24,300 pounds
Heating surfaces, tubes
1145 sq ft
Water capacity
2,000 gallons
Weight
78 tons 9 cwt.
Wheel diameter
5 feet 8 inches
King George’ was built by the Hunslet Engine Company in Leeds in 1942 and delivered new to Linby Colliery, Nottinghamshire on 20 May 1942. After moving to Bestwood Colliery in 1959 and on to Gedling Colliery in 1960, No. 2409 was purchased by Titanic Steam Ship Enterprises and moved to Ecclestone, Staffordshire. In 1980 she was sold for scrap to Jeremy Walker scrap merchants of Witney, Oxfordshire, but was rescued and moved to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway at Toddington on 28 June 1981. Painted red, the locomotive was restored at Toddington and became the first steam locomotive for over 30 years to reach Cheltenham Race Course in February 2001. ‘King George’ was moved to Didcot in December 2011 and was dismantled for overhaul.
King George entered service at Didcot Railway Centre in July 2022 as side tank in a blue livery, but the parts necessary to return it to a red saddletank, if required, have been retained.
Status
Operational
Build date
1942
Built at
Hunslet Engine Company
Original railway
Linby Colliery, Nottinghamshire
Wheel arrangement
0-6-0ST
Route availability
All Routes
Boiler type
Non - GWR
Cylinders
(2)
Power class
Unclassed
Superheater area
None
Water capacity
1,200 gals
Weight
36 tons
08604 was shedded at Tyseley near Birmingham where one of the GWS volunteers, Simon Grego, was a fitter, the engine became well known as he repainted the loco in full BR lined out green. She was withdrawn after sheering a crank pin key and had been purchased by a private individual from BR and the owner was looking for a place to keep it.
Enter once again Simon, he made contact with the then Locomotive Manager, Richard Preston, who negotiated with the owner for the loan of the loco to the GWS and its movement to Didcot. Once at Didcot she required an extensive overhaul. One of the wheelsets had to be exchanged and the traction motor repaired, the engine had seized and had to be freed up and the cab was devoid of some fittings which meant a partial re-wire.
On the expiry of the loan agreement the loco was purchased outright by the GWS and now forms a very important part of the site's plant and equipment.
The locomotive spent some time in a fictitious black war department livery with the number WD40, and then in the 'Tyseley' BR lined out green, but in August 2010 she was repainted into an earlier plain green livery. In August 2017 the livery changed yet again, this time to BR Blue.
She is now used on for shunting the yard at Didcot Railway Centre and sometimes works demonstration goods trains and very occasionally passenger trains at Open Days and Special Events.
Status
Operational
Build date
1959
Built at
British Railways, Derby
Original railway
British Railways
Wheel arrangement
0-6-0 DE