Locomotive Class

Castle Class

Castle Class Class: Castle Class
Type: Steam
Designer: C. B. Collett
Weight: 136 tons (including tender)
Purpose: Express Passenger

Information: Built between 1923 and 1950 the Castle Class 4073 series were designed for express passenger service through-out the Great Western Railway. The Castle Class is generally noted for their over-all performance, operating economy, and long working lives.

Details: The prototype Castle was derived from rebuilding an earlier Churchward designed Saint Class locomotive. A total of 171 class members were built between 1923 and 1950. Although most were new builds, 15 examples were rebuilt Star Class locomotives, while one additional member was rebuilt from the GWR’s only Pacific, the “Great Bear”.
During 1924, class doyen 4073 “Caerphilly Castle” was exhibited at the British Empire Exhibition alongside the larger LNER 4472 “Flying Scotsman” in original A1 format. The Castle was declared the more powerful; resulting in the rebuild of the A1 class to A3 format. Subsequent locomotive exchanges proved the claim as other companies sought to replicate the success of the Castle.
The Castle’s set about their duties in diligent fashion, hauling all but the heaviest express workings through-out GWR metals. During 1946 Frederick Hawksworth had taken over from Collett at which time improvements were implemented to many class members over the next ten years. Improvements included super-heated boilers and double chimneys.
Liveries were typical of express passenger locomotives being out-shopped in lined green livery through their working careers in both Great Western and British Railways variants.
Interestingly, the first Castle to be with-drawn was in 1950; the same year the last member was constructed. As steam was replaced with diesel through-out the Western Region remaining Castle’s were gradually withdrawn, with the last member 7029 “Clun Castle” being with-drawn in December 1965. Eight members would survive into preservation with several remaining operational and main-line certified.
Previously we noted that a “Caerphilly Castle” was compared to “Flying Scotsman” in 1924. This was not the last time that a Castle would meet-up with probably the worlds’ most travelled and recognizable steam locomotive “Flying Scotsman”; but this time on friendly terms. The ceremonial meeting of 4472 “Flying Scotsman” and 4079 “Pendennis Castle” that took place on 17th of September 1989 was not to be in Great Britain, but rather some 10,000-miles distant in Perth, Australia. The strange story of how the meeting between a Castle and A3 came about is another story!

John Faulkner

Castle Class Releases (28)

MODEL NO. LIVERY
A Date With The Duchy Train Pack (Castle Class - Taunton Castle) - Barry J. Freeman Collection
Released: 2011
7036 B.R. Green
B.R. Castle Locomotive with Three B.R. Centenary Coaches (Castle Class - Winchester Castle)
Released: 1997 1998
5042 B.R. Green
Castle Class Locomotive - Beverston Castle
Released: 2009 2010 2011
5068 B.R. Green
Castle Class Locomotive - Blenheim
Released: 2002
5073 B.R. Green
Castle Class Locomotive - Bristol Castle
Released: 2008
7013 B.R. Green
Castle Class Locomotive - Builth Castle
Released: 2004 2005
4086 G.W.R. Green
Castle Class Locomotive - Cadbury Castle
Released: 2004 2005
7028 B.R. Green
Castle Class Locomotive - Cardiff Castle
Released: 1969w
4075 B.R. Green
Castle Class Locomotive - Clun Castle (DCC Locomotive with Sound)
Released: 2011
7029 B.R. Green
Castle Class Locomotive - Devizes Castle
Released: 1970w 1971w 1972w
7002 G.W.R. Green
Castle Class Locomotive - Dunster Castle
Released: 2003
4093 G.W.R. Green
Castle Class Locomotive - Earl Cairns
Released: 1999 2000 2001
5053 B.R. Green
Castle Class Locomotive - Earl Cairns - The Pete Waterman Collection
Released: 2009 2010 2011
5053 B.R. Green
Castle Class Locomotive - Fairy Battle
Released: 2006 2007
5077 B.R. Green
Castle Class Locomotive - Great Western - G.W.R. 175 Celebration Model
Released: 2010
7007 B.R. Green
Castle Class Locomotive - Hampden
Released: 2004 2005
5074 B.R. Green
Castle Class Locomotive - Ince Castle
Released: 2009 2010
7034 B.R. Green
Castle Class Locomotive - Kenilworth Castle
Released: 2001 2002
4097 G.W.R. Green
Castle Class Locomotive - Kenilworth Castle (DCC)
Released: 2011
4097 G.W.R. Green
Castle Class Locomotive - Kidwelly Castle (DCC Locomotive with Sound)
Released: 2010
4098 B.R. Green
Castle Class Locomotive - Pendennis Castle
Released: 2005 2006
4079 B.R. Green
Castle Class Locomotive - Spitfire
Released: 2003
5071 B.R. Green
Castle Class Locomotive - Tintagel
Released: 2009 2010 2011
5011 G.W.R. Green
Castle Class Locomotive - Warwick Castle
Released: 2006 2007 2008
4081 B.R. Green
Castle Class Locomotive - Wellington
Released: 2005 2006
5075 G.W.R. Green
Castle Class Locomotive - Windsor Castle
Released: 2006 2007
4082 G.W.R. Green
Class 5MT Locomotive - The Pete Waterman Collection
Released: 2010 2011
45190 B.R. Black
The Torbay Express (Castle Class - Llanstephan Castle)
Released: 1999
5004 B.R. Green

Castle Class Images (28)

A Date With The Duchy Train Pack (Castle Class - Taunton Castle)  - Barry J. Freeman Collection
A Date With The Duchy Train Pack (Castle Class - Taunton Castle) - Barry J. Freeman Collection 7036

B.R. Castle Locomotive with Three B.R. Centenary Coaches (Castle Class - Winchester Castle)
B.R. Castle Locomotive with Three B.R. Centenary Coaches (Castle Class - Winchester Castle) 5042

Castle Class Locomotive - Beverston Castle
Castle Class Locomotive - Beverston Castle 5068

Castle Class Locomotive - Blenheim
Castle Class Locomotive - Blenheim 5073

Castle Class Locomotive - Bristol Castle
Castle Class Locomotive - Bristol Castle 7013

Castle Class Locomotive - Builth Castle
Castle Class Locomotive - Builth Castle 4086

Castle Class Locomotive - Cadbury Castle
Castle Class Locomotive - Cadbury Castle 7028

Castle Class Locomotive - Cardiff Castle
Castle Class Locomotive - Cardiff Castle 4075

Castle Class Locomotive - Clun Castle (DCC Locomotive with Sound)
Castle Class Locomotive - Clun Castle (DCC Locomotive with Sound) 7029

Castle Class Locomotive - Devizes Castle
Castle Class Locomotive - Devizes Castle 7002

Castle Class Locomotive - Dunster Castle
Castle Class Locomotive - Dunster Castle 4093

Castle Class Locomotive - Earl Cairns
Castle Class Locomotive - Earl Cairns 5053

Castle Class Locomotive - Earl Cairns - The Pete Waterman Collection
Castle Class Locomotive - Earl Cairns - The Pete Waterman Collection 5053

Castle Class Locomotive - Fairy Battle
Castle Class Locomotive - Fairy Battle 5077

Castle Class Locomotive - Great Western - G.W.R. 175 Celebration Model
Castle Class Locomotive - Great Western - G.W.R. 175 Celebration Model 7007

Castle Class Locomotive - Hampden
Castle Class Locomotive - Hampden 5074

Castle Class Locomotive - Ince Castle
Castle Class Locomotive - Ince Castle 7034

Castle Class Locomotive - Kenilworth Castle
Castle Class Locomotive - Kenilworth Castle 4097

Castle Class Locomotive - Kenilworth Castle (DCC)
Castle Class Locomotive - Kenilworth Castle (DCC) 4097

Castle Class Locomotive - Kidwelly Castle (DCC Locomotive with Sound)
Castle Class Locomotive - Kidwelly Castle (DCC Locomotive with Sound) 4098

Castle Class Locomotive - Pendennis Castle
Castle Class Locomotive - Pendennis Castle 4079

Castle Class Locomotive - Spitfire
Castle Class Locomotive - Spitfire 5071

Castle Class Locomotive - Tintagel
Castle Class Locomotive - Tintagel 5011

Castle Class Locomotive - Warwick Castle
Castle Class Locomotive - Warwick Castle 4081

Castle Class Locomotive - Wellington
Castle Class Locomotive - Wellington 5075

Castle Class Locomotive - Windsor Castle
Castle Class Locomotive - Windsor Castle 4082

Class 5MT Locomotive - The Pete Waterman Collection
Class 5MT Locomotive - The Pete Waterman Collection 45190

The Torbay Express (Castle Class - Llanstephan Castle)
The Torbay Express (Castle Class - Llanstephan Castle) 5004


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Database

11,328 yearly Items over 57 Years.
4,069 individual Items.
3,707 Models.
362 catalogued Train Sets.
156 Train Packs.
820 Steam Locomotives.
497 Diesel Locomotives.
1,082 Passenger Coaches.
1,152 Freight Wagons.


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