Didcot Railway Centre - 'The Four Castles' 04/03/2023

Reputed to be one of the UK's most successful locomotive designs, the Great Western Railway 4073 'Castle' Class celebrates its centenary in 2023, marking 100 years since the pioneer of the class, 4073 "Caerphilly Castle", emerged from Swindon works in the summer of 1923. As a celebration to commemorate this milestone, the Didcot Railway Centre organised an event to display four surviving members of the class together outside their 1932 built engine shed.
A direct development of the existing 4000 'Star' Class, the 'Castle' featured an extended frame, a larger and lighter boiler, larger cylinders, and an increased firebox grate. 171 examples were built in total, thereby becoming the most numerous express passenger locomotive design produced by the GWR.
The Didcot ensemble would feature the home pairing of 4079 "Pendennis Castle" and 5051 "Drysllwyn Castle", being joined by the Tyseley duo of 5043 "Earl of Mount Edgcumbe" and 7029 "Clun Castle". The quartet would be lined up in numerical order, with three of the four in steam. Resident 'Large Prairie' - 4144 would also be in service on the main demonstration line.
In order to participate at the event, the Tyseley pair would work a railtour to Didcot from Birmingham Snow Hill, with the locomotives arriving into the Railway Centre for the line-up, before being turned and serviced ahead of working the return leg of the railtour back to Birmingham. The railtour would mark a preservation first, as the first time double-chimney 'Castle' Class locomotives double-headed on the mainline.
As enthusiasts packed out Didcot, a slightly more conservative approach was taken to filming, in order to not fall foul of the crowds. This saw more focus spent on recording the line-up itself, while only filming 7029 on the turntable, before leaving Didcot and heading to Yarnton to witness the Tyseley pair romping north the the return leg of their railtour.
Locomotives:
GWR 4073 'Castle' Class - 5051 "Drysllwyn Castle"
GWR 4073 'Castle' Class - 4079 "Pendennis Castle"
GWR 5101 'Large Prairie' Class - 4144
Ex-GWR 4073 'Castle' Class - 5043 "Earl of Mount Edgcumbe"
BR(W) 4073 'Castle' Class - 7029 "Clun Castle"
All footage filmed on Saturday the 4th of March 2023.

[@Hard-Boiled-Bollock]

7 Castles beautifully preserved or restored. 3 in steam, 2 soon to be in steam. God bless the enthusiasts who made that happen

[@Jaidencharlotte]

There are actually 8 preserved 4073 Caerphilly Castle 4079 Pendennis Castle 5029 Nunney Castle 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe (Barbury Castle) 5051 Earl Bathurst (Drysllwyn Castle) 5080 Defiant (Ogmore Castle) 7027 Thornbury Castle And 7029 Clun Castle

[@hilarydonaldson3358]

My daughter is one of them!!

[@arrowhasautism9953]

​@@Jaidencharlotte yeah but thornbury is being used for new build projects

[@Jaidencharlotte]

@@arrowhasautism9953 true true I’d still count it as being preserved though

[@edmundcarew7235]

Having been to UK/Europe in late 2022, and doing the same again this year, one can only say "the UK has the best preserved railway (and loco) situation in the world." Thank you to thousands of volunteers who keep steam and preserved diesels operating, and also to The Southerner and others who bring the sights and sounds to a worldwide audience. Stunningly beautiful locos on God's Wonderful Railway! Keep up the great work!

[@Bruno.Trains]

Always a pleasure. Beautifully done. Thank you for sharing your film.

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@railmediaproductions3677]

Absolutely fantastic and you captured the event very well. The 4 Castles looked great together and I also enjoyed 7029 being turned on the turntable. I am currently working on a documentary about Pendennis Castle and it will have some footage of it at work in the Pilbara region of Western Australia back in the early 1990’s. There is still a long way to go before it is released but I hope to have it available on KZbin in April or May. Best regards Rowan.

[@Lanes-Explorer5733]

Wonderful. Many thanks.Superb photography.

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Thank you

[@lukeslocomotives]

What an amazing day that was! Unfortunately I wasn't there, but seeing the two Earls, Clun, and Pendennis lined up sure is a sight for sore eyes. Would love to see 5051 return to service, she's my favourite locomotive and it's a shame she was the quiet one amongst her three sisters

[@sunset7860]

Thankyou particularly for the final double header 'flypast' shot.

[@andrewclimo5709]

Awesome. Would be great to see GWS host another GWR 150-type celebration sometime, Castles, Kings, Halls, Manors all together.

[@TwmUkLive]

Hey what an amazing day and I think I might of saw you there, great footage, thanks for sharing

[@bobingram6912]

Thanks Matthew, I'll say no more!!!!!👍👍

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Cheers, Bob!

[@OnTheMoveTransport]

I didn’t attend the event as I was unavailable but I don’t mind personally as I’m planning to go to Tyseley to see them together as Pendennis comes over to visit.

[@SimonTog]

Very nice lineup, thumbs up :)

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Was a great sight. Cheers

[@IowaTrainGay]

Love this! Too bad Olthon Hall didn't make an appearance as an 'honorary' castle 😂 love this more anyway! Absolutely amazing what you all do over there across the pond! Keep up the stunning work!

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

You can almost hear some purists having a meltdown at such a suggestion We are very lucky this side of the pond. Shame that its frequently taken for granted.

[@aleu650]

Hexcellent👍👍👍

[@barrythedieselelectricstea5217]

what a line up all restored or persevered looking at that in a row it brings back the old days of Steam outside there sheds 👍

[@gunterbartsch9284]

🚂🚃 ❤ "Remember Experience Preserve" ❤ 🚂🚃 Best greetings from Germany and FURTHER all the best.

[@harrypenn611]

I cant believe I forgot , I'm.kicking myself so much

[@KINGANDCASTLE]

Nice one.

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Cheers

[@robertbester]

Very good video.

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Thank you

[@eliotreader8220]

did this event have any connection to the Titfieldfield thunderbolt turning 70 this weekend

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

None at all

[@JRS06]

No, but several Castle locomotives were seen at Mallingford station at the end of the film, one of which was Lysonshall Castle (sadly not preserved).

[@Spud607]

Is Pendennis Castle going to be main line certified? Also I thpught earl of mount edgecomb was withdrawn for overhaul. Has she been completed because if so that news zipped past my ears 😂😂

[@MaximumPressureSteam]

Pendennis isn't going to be mainline certified and Earl of Mount Edgcumbe only returned to service last weekend!

[@TheSouthernerYTChannel]

Didcot have no plans to mainline certify Pendennis. The Earl has only just returned from its overhaul. The trip to Didcot on the day, was its first railtour post-overhaul.

[@Spud607]

@@MaximumPressureSteam lovely! Great to see two castles double heading on the main line 😄😄

[@beeble2003]

"No, Fork 'astles. 'Astles for forks." -- Two Ronnies, rejected draft.