King Edward 11, at Didcot, on a photo charter.

            Operational career[edit]

The locomotive was built at GWR's Swindon Works, out-shopped in June 1930. For most of its working life it was allocated to Newton Abbott and Laira (Plymouth), working express passenger trains to and from Devon to London Paddington. Withdrawn from Cardiff in June 1962, it was sent to Swindon for breaking up.[1] However, in light of the installation of a new bridge west of Bristol towards South Wales, it was coupled to its twin, 6024 King Edward I, and towed to the bridge for weight testing purposes. With both locomotives now closer to South Wales than Swindon, the decision was made to sell them to Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry Island. 

Preservation[edit]

King Edward II at Woodhams' Scrapyard, in 1982
Whilst King Edward I was saved in 1974, King Edward II remained at the scrapyard due to the rear driving wheels being flame-cut following a derailment at Woodham's. However, as part of the 150th anniversary of GWR's formation in 1985, the hulk was acquired by Harvey's of Bristol, and was moved to a bay platform at Bristol Temple Meads railway station called the Fish Dock. 

Restoration[edit]

The Brunel Engineering Centre Trust, under a Manpower Services Commission (MS) scheme, completely dismantled 6023 and restoration began. Work continued until the autumn of 1988, when the MS scheme funding was withdrawn and the future of 6023 was cast into doubt. 

6023 was then bought by the Great Western Society (GWS) and moved to Didcot in March 1990 for its restoration to continue. The restoration has included the casting of new rear driving wheels in 1994, followed by re-wheeling the chassis in 1995. The casting is notable since it is thought to be the first wheels to be created for a standard gauge locomotive in preservation. The damaged wheels were also acquired by the GWS at Didcot and can today be seen on display there. Unlike the other preserved "King" class locomotives, the GWS decided to restore 6023 to its as-built single-chimney configuration. All "Kings" had been converted to double chimneys under British Railways ownership, which improved performance and efficiency but changed the original appearance. 

On 12 April 2010, King Edward II's boiler passed its steam test, and on 20 January 2011 it moved for the first time under its own power since 1962.[2] It was due to re-enter service on 2 April 2011.[3] 

Initially, King Edward II has been painted in the early BR express passenger blue livery, rather than the later standard BR Brunswick Green livery currently carried by 6000 King George V and 6024 King Edward I.

Taken on: April 1, 2011

Tags:

6023

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King Class

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Camera: Canon EOS 40D, f/9.0, 1/40 sec, 17mm, ISO 160 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 40D
Lens:	EF-S17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM
Aperture:	f/9.0
Exposure Time:	0.025 sec (1/40)
Focal Length:	17mm
ISO:	160
Exposure Bias:	-2/3 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 7.5 (Windows)
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