‘KING EDWARD I’ : BR 6024

KING CLASS : 4-6-0

One of the most powerful steam locomotives to be built in Britain, ‘King Edward I’ was ordered by the Great Western Railway to haul the fastest express passenger trains from London to Bristol and the West. She entered service in late 1927 and, at the time, the King Class was the most powerful in the world. She was one of 30 engines in her class and was based at Plymouth and Newton Abbot from where she worked express trains such as the ‘Cornish Riviera Express’ from London to Penzance. By the time of WWII ‘King Edward I’ had clocked over half a million miles.

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Following an overhaul in 1957 making her even more powerful, she was retired from service in 1962. In 1990 she was finally returned to steam by the 6024 Preservation Society. Since then she has performed numerous times on the mainline and has been through two overhauls. She was purchased by the Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust in 2012 and is currently being overhauled to running condition by the 6024 Preservation Society, who remain responsible for the care of ‘King Edward I’.

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Photo by: Geoff Griffiths