Great Western Society trio help say last farewell to Old Oak Common depot

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THE Great Western Society is to send two locomotives and GWR steam railmotor No. 93 – to Old Oak Common for what will be the GWR ‘mega shed’s’ last-ever open day.

As part of main line developments in west London involving Crossrail, the Great Western Main Line and, eventually, High Speed 2, the famous shed is to be demolished next year.

GWR 4-6-0 No. 6023 King Edward II on shed at Didcot Railway Centre. FRANK DUMBLETON

On Saturday, September 2, the modern-day Great Western Railway will open the depot to the public for the farewell event. Titled Legends of the Great Western, the open day will celebrate 111 years of GWR history there, with a display of steam, diesel and electric locomotives.

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‘Blue King’ on duty

Didcot Railway Centre will be sending the society’s ‘blue King’, GWR 4-6-0 No. 6023 King Edward II, which has been prepared for main line certification and will undertake its long-anticipated test runs after the event.

While No. 6023 will be towed to Old Oak by rail from Didcot, as it has now been ruled to be in gauge for running over the network, No. 93 – which is out of gauge at Tilehurst – and its trailer,
No. 92, will be taken there by low loader. The third society exhibit will be WR Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9514.

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At Old Oak, they will be joined by WR 4-6-0 No. 7903 Foremarke Hall, A1 Pacific No. 60163 Tornado, BR Britannia Pacific No. 70013 Oliver Cromwell, WR 0-6-0PT No. 1501, GWR 0-6-0PT
No. 6430, Class 35 Hymek D7017, Class 42 D821 Greyhound, Class 47 No. 47828, Class 50s Nos. 50007 Hercules, 50017 Royal Oak, 50026 Indomitable, 50035 Ark Royal, 50050 Fearless, and Class 52 D1015 Western Champion.

Read more in Issue 232 of HR – on sale now!


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