Museum welcomes a golden king via swap with a star
Published Date:
11 October 2008
A showpiece locomotive from the Golden Age of Steam completed a 250-mile journey yesterday to become the latest gem in the National Railway Museum's collection in York.
No 6000 King George V – built in 1927-1930 from a design by Charles Collett – is to take pride of place among the Museum's treasures in the Great Hall.
The engine has been acquired under an exchange deal between the NRM and Swindon Steam Museum which has swapped the King class locomotive for Evening Star.
But one of the biggest challenges to the swap was taking the 135-tonne King George on the 250-mile route from Swindon to York.
Most of the trip was by road on an articulated lorry. But with low bridges on the NRM approach road Leeman Road, the final two miles were by rail.
To get under 25,000 volt overhead lines, the cab, safety valve bonnet, casting and chimney had to be removed.
No.6000 King George V was the first King class locomotive and only weeks after the last nuts and bolts were fitted the engine was shipped to America for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad centenary celebrations.
To mark the occasion the locomotive was presented with a brass bell and plaque which she still carries today and led to her being dubbed The Bell by steam fans.
After returning to Britain, No 6000 was pensioned off in 1962.
The locomotive was officially preserved and restored to mainline running order based at Bulmer's Railway Centre in Hereford.
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Last Updated:
11 October 2008 8:25 AM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Yorkshire
