STEAM DAYS In Colour 195: The Collett 'Castle' class 4-6-0s

摘要

Soon to be passing Royal Oak station to the left of this scene, and having just passed beneath the large Ranelagh Road girder bridge that crosses the track leading into and out of Paddington station, we see, on Friday, 2 August 1957, BR-built No 7008 Swansea Castle having just left the terminus with a down express. Ranelagh Bridge servicing point, out of view to the right, is soon to be passed. The 'Castle' class 4-6-0 pictured was a long-standing resident of Old Oak Common, remaining in traffic until September 1964, and scrapped at Bird's scrapyard in Risca in February 1965. No 7008 was one of the first locomotives to be constructed in BR days, in May 1948, and like all the 70XX 'Castles', it was fitted with mechanical lubricators, and received its double chimney in June 1959. Standing in the yard on Old Oak Common shed on Saturday, 29 August 1959 we see BR-built 'Castle' No 7017 G J Churchward, named after the GWR's designer of the 'Star' class 4-6-0s, the '4200' class 2-8-0 Ts, the '4700' class 2-8-0s, the '4300' class Moguls and the '4400' and '4500' 2-6-2Ts. Some of the 'Castles' were fitted with Hawksworth flat-sided tenders, as seen here on No 7017, and it was not uncommon for 'Castles' leaving Swindon Works after overhaul to be paired with a Collett tender after entering the works with a Hawksworth one, and vice versa. The nameplates were removed from No 7017 after being in service for just a few days and were refitted for the naming ceremony on 29 October 1948, as were those from No 7037 Swindon for its naming ceremony on 15 November 1950. The smokebox numberplate on No 7017 G J Churchward was of brass. The engine's short lifespan of around 15 years ended in February 1963.