HELLO??

@cyeco13 art (Ko-fi)

Thank you Cyeco for drawing this for my Tom Bennet Fic, it's a master piece and it communicates what I had in mind.

Presenting the Great Western Railways 4073 Castle Class!

4073 “Caerphilly Castle”-first of the class, preserved by the National Collection upon withdrawal in 1960.

4079 “Pendennis Castle”-Locomotive that was trialed on the LNER in the 1925 exchange trials. Operated by the Great Western Society at Didcot following an eventful life in preservation, including 23 years in Australia. Notably, (within the AU) the engine is still part owned by Australian Preservation Groups, whose interests are managed by the North Western Railway.

5043 “Earl of Mount Edgcumbe” (“Barbury Castle”)- rescued from Barry in 1973 by what is now the Tyseley Locomotive Works.

Thornbury Castle-Preserved by the Great Western Society at Didcot following her purchase from Barry in 1972 (no she's not a parts donor for a new build in my AU, screw that.)

5080 “Defiant” (“Ogmore Castle”)- rescued from Barry in 1974 by what is now the Tyseley Locomotive Works.

7029 “Clun Castle”-The Locomotive to haul the last steam hauled train from Paddington, and the last Castle to be withdrawn, she was preserved shortly after being sold for scrap in 1966, and is now owned by Tyseley Locomotive Works.

5051 “Drysllwyn Castle” (“Earl Bathurst”)-pulled from Woodham by a Great Western Society member in 1970.

5029 “Nunney Castle”-saved from Woodham by a mix of private individuals and Didcot in 1976, now owned and operated by Locomotive Services Limited.

AU Preserved 

7007 “Great Western” (“Ogmore Castle”)-pulled from Cashmore’s Great Bridge Scrapyard in December 1963 by the Kingsbridge Preservation Group.

7037 “Swindon”- Transferred to the North Western Railway upon withdrawal in 1963.

C32 (7032) Denbigh Castle (“Ogmore Castle")-Gifted to the DWR upon withdrawal in an attempt to improve relations.

4000 “North Star”-Originally the prototype of the Star Class, later rebuilt into a castle. Queen of the Great Western Railway. Her withdrawal in 1957 nearly caused the Western Region to revolt until it was announced she was being donated to the Sudrian Railway Museum, although whether that was always planned or a last minute change is heavily debated. She would become a common sight on Railtours through the Western Region through the fall of steam, being the last steam engine to run on the BR mainline before the steam ban went into effect. She returned to her railtours once the ban was lifted, and remains a favorite among railfans in the present day.

4090 “Dorchester Castle”-Purchased by the Chester and Holyhead in 1963 after she was withdrawn for the third time. 

5005 “Manorbier Castle”-Saved by Caomhnóir, operated by Locomotive Services Limited.

5002 “Ludlow Castle”-saved by a private collector.

7013 Bristol Castle and 4082 “Windsor Castle-Preserved upon withdrawal by the Seagull Line, and given their original names back.

4032 “Queen Alexandra”-Disappeared from Swindon in 1951, eventually appearing in a private collection in 1974. In recent years, she is often found hauling heritage trains for Arriva Wales.

4078 “Pembroke Castle” and 4085 “Berkeley Castle”- purchased by an Australian Tourist Line in 1962.

5032 “Usk Castle”-hidden away by Caomhnóir, donated to the lloches Heritage Railway in 1972.

7035 “Ogmore Castle”-Saved by an American Shortline in 1964, can still be found hauling local freights.

7010 “Avondale Castle”-Preserved on the London New Eastern Railway after being saved as a part of a joint deal with another of their engines.

5004 “Norwich Castle” (“Llanstephan Castle”)-purchased by her crew, often hired out for railtours or heritage operations. Currently operating heritage tours for the modern Great Western Railway.

5068 “Beverston Castle”-appeared at the Dartmouth Steam Railway in early 1973, her whereabouts from her withdrawal in 1962 until her sudden reappearance remain a mystery.

7020 “Gloucester Castle”-Saved by the Pennsylvania Railroad.

5019 “Treago Castle”-Escaped to the United States in early 1962 and found employment with the Southern Pacific, being nicknamed “Daylight Castle” by railfans.

6099 (5076) “Gladiator” (“Drysllwyn Castle”)-Saved from a scrapyard in 1964 by the Rose Line alongside several LMS engines, the Castle was in rather appalling shape when pulled from the scrap line. She was set to the side in the line’s works awaiting her eventual turn for repairs. The original plan was to restore the intact components before selling the engine onto a Great Western focused preservation line. However, it took several years before the original parts were ready for reassembly, and by this time Gladiator had become part of the railway, and the idea of selling the engine was a non-starter for engines, crews, board, and Gladiator alike. 5076 would remain a Rose Line Locomotive. Gladiator was given the choice of restoration. She could be restored to standard condition but in LMS Livery, or given a rebuild to represent what may have existed if the LMS had actually been allowed to purchase a set of Castle Class as they had wanted to in 1926. Gladiator chose to be rebuilt in LMS fashion in order to fit in with her new LMS family,  and emerged in 1976 in her new shape.

7016 “Chester Castle”-Preserved at the Krestaen Railway Museum.

5025 “Chirk Castle”-Preserved at the Denbigh Railway Museum

7008 "Swansea Castle”-Saved by the New York Central

4095 “Harlech Castle”-preserved by the Harlech Museum

4075 “Cardiff Castle”-Donated to a Canadian Heritage Railway