History of 5029

1934 - 1963

Great Western Railway Castle Class No.5029 Nunney Castle was built at Swindon Works in 1934, and takes the name of a small castle near Frome, Somerset.

The locomotive was used in many publicity and "life on the railway type" of photographs. During the first day of the World War 2 Evacuations the locomotive hauled trains carrying children being taken from London to the safety of the countryside. Nunney Castle was also used to haul the Royal Train in October 1957 from Paddington to Gloucester.

No.5029 was initially allocated to Old Oak Common MPD (81A) in West London where it was to spend most of its working life. The engine moved to Worcester in 1958, then had spells at Shrewsbury, Newton Abbot and Laira before a final transfer in December 1962 took it to Cardiff East Dock, where it was to remain until being withdrawn along with other members of its class in December 1963.

Sold for scrap

Nunney Castle was sold in 1964 to Woodham Bros. at Barry, arriving at the famous scrap yard in the June where it was to languish for 12 years. 5029 was in fact the last steam loco delieved to Barry Scrapyard by rail. She was rescued in 1976 by the Great Western Society at Didcot (making it the 81st locomotive to be saved).

Return to service

When originally purchased from Woodham's 5029 was jointly owned between a private consortium and the GWS. This arrangement changed in the mid 1990's when 5029 became privately owned. Whilst the locomotive has recently changed owners that is the case to the present day. The locomotive was restored from scrap yard condition at Didcot and returned to service in 1990. Since then it has been a regular performer on the mainline and become a favourite with the crews that have operated it.

In the late 1990's the engine became due for its next overhaul which was carried out by Ian Riley Engineering in Bury, Lancs. It was during this overhaul 5029 was fitted with air braking, (while still maintaining the original vacuum system). The tender was also modified to give a larger water capacity. Both of these modifications were made to enable 5029 to increase its operational capacity on the mainline. The locomotive was returned to the main line in 2000. TPWS (Train Protection Warning System) was fitted in 2002 and was the first Great Western locomotive to be equipped.

Overhaul at Tyseley Locomotive Works

In 2005 it was decided to inspect the engine at Tyseley Locomotive Works, while the locomotive was still in good running order with its current main line "ticket" still valid. The intention at that stage being that 5029 would be undergoing an Intermediate Overhaul, particularly as some of the work would be in the nature of refurbishment and not a replacement of parts. However after further work it was decided, with the full agreement of the owner, that the work would be a virtual Heavy General Overhaul. The bulk of the engineering work was carried out by Tyseley Locomotive Works, with the essential ancillary work being carried out by the Support Group.

Jobs carried out during the overhaul included:

• A full re- tube of the boiler
• Replacing most of the firebox stays
• Refurbishment of the lower portions of the smokebox tubeplate & boiler extension
• Overhaul of the valve gear, crossheads, pistons, air brake system and safety valves etc. etc.
• Fitting OTMR (On Train Monitoring Recorder)
• Repaint into Post War GWR livery with BRITISH RAILWAYS on the tender.

At the beginning of 2008 the loco was virtually complete again and had a successful test run, repainted into its present post nationalisation 1948 livery and in April 2008 was passed for main line service. That year 5029 ran specials from Tyseley to York and Lincoln, and has double headed with newly restored “Castle” 5043 “Earl of Mount Edgecumbe” on the Welsh Marches on 16th May 2009 from Shrewsbury to Hereford & Gloucester returning to Birmingham.
It has spent some time working at Severn Valley Railway, Paignton & Dartmouth and West Somerset Railway Galas.
In June 2010, 5029 double headed with 6024 “King Edward 1 from Exeter over Brunels Railway and the Devon Banks, crossing his Bridge over the Tamar at Saltash, then to Celebrate GW175, returning with 6024 from Penzance to Paddington on a re-run of the “Cornish Riviera Express”
August 2010 saw 5029 working two Sunday trips from Bristol Temple Meads to Weymouth for the Railway Touring Company.
We still have an ongoing list of Winter maintenance after we return to Tyseley Workshops, Birmingham for their Open Day on 24th October 2010.