Clun Castle: Vintage Trains announces ‘icon’s’ first tours

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VINTAGE Trains has announced the first main line tours for its iconic flagship – WR 4-6-0 No. 7029 Clun Castle.

A high-profile recommissioning ceremony of Clun Castle will take place at Tyseley Locomotive Works on Sunday, October 29, and following its seven-year restoration, will undergo further tests before embarking on a series of main line test runs in early 2018.

WR 4-6-0 No. 7029 Clun Castle at Bristol Barrow Road on November 27, 1964. KDH ARCHIVE

It is pencilled in for a public Vintage Trains’ trip to Chester on March 31, and another to Oxford via Gloucester, Sapperton Bank and Didcot on April 21. These will be the iconic locomotive’s first main line tours for 30 years.

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On October 29, it will appear in steam on the Tyseley turntable alongside other locomotives, including sister double-chimneyed Castle No. 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe.

Vision for the future

The recommissioning ceremony will take place at 11am, and at 2.30pm Vintage Trains’ chairman, Michael Whitehouse, will be hosting a Vision for the Future presentation followed by a question and answer session in the London Midland Railway Club Association club next door to the works.

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Michael, who is also chairman of 7029 Clun Castle Limited, said: ‘“I am thrilled that Clun Castle will be back in steam in October.

“We know very many people are looking forward to see it hauling our express steam trains, and all of us at Tyseley are absolutely delighted that the locomotive, which founded our charity, will soon be back on the main line where it belongs. We are taking bookings now for its first trains too!

Read more in Issue 233 of HR – on sale now!

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