Malago_Vale.jpg (48465 bytes)

The highly successful 2004 season of the Torbay Express runs from Bristol to Kingswear and return culminated on 5 September with a stunning performance from Castle Class 4-6-0 5051, carrying her original name of Drysllwyn Castle just for that day. On a beautifully sunny morning 5051 wakes up the neighbours as she storms out of Bristol, through Malago Vale. Photo and scan Roger Griffiths; jrcs@blueyonder.co.uk

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Penzance, 7 April, 2007: ex-Great Western Railway 4-6-0s, King Class No. 6024 King Edward I and Castle Class No. 5051 Earl Bathurst are made ready to haul The Great Britain special train to Bristol. The locomotives turned in a stunning performance, arriving in Bristol no less than 19 minutes early! However, the support crew for No. 5051 were certificate expired and it was not known if/when No. 5051 will run again. Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com Binary file Penzance.txt matches

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Castle & Hall Class 4-6-0's, 5051 & 6998, climb up Sapperton Bank at Frampton Mansell with the 'Red Dragon' railtour, 28/6/86. It was a really hot day and there was very little in the way of visible exhaust on the locos, so you can judge how hard they were working when this picture was taken. The sound was awesome. Photo copyright Stephen Dance (sdance@esfplc.com)

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The very hot day ensures a clear exhaust for ex-GWR Castle Class 4-6-0 5051 Earl Bathurst, as she roars past Aller with the "Torbay Express" from Bristol to Kingswear. The authenticity of the occasion is completed by the locomotive carrying an appropriate headboard and the correct train reporting number, 146 (a former GWR device to assist signalmen in identifying a particular train), for the Down "Torbay Express". 1 August 2004. Photo and scan Roger Griffiths; jrcs@blueyonder.co.uk

UK_Dainton_1_5051+5029_29_5_04.jpg (56092 bytes)

Eight-cylinder effort as a pair of ex-GWR Castle Class 4-6-0s attacks the 1 in 36/44 gradient (2.78/2.27%) to Dainton Tunnel, in South Devon. 5051 Earl Bathurst and 5029 Nunney Castle, create a grandstand spectacle for hundreds of photographers as the locomotives make steady, but very noisy progress with a special train from Taunton to Penzance. 29 May 2004. Photo and scan Roger Griffiths; jrcs@blueyonder.co.uk

UK_Huntspill_5051_1_8_04.jpg (48303 bytes)

The last rays of the sun catch Castle Class 4-6-0 5051 Earl Bathurst running on level track at her maximum allowed speed of 75mph (120kph). The 4-cylinder locomotive is seen as she roars past Huntspill with the return "Torbay Express" from Kingswear to Bristol. 1 August 2004. Photo and scan Roger Griffiths; jrcs@blueyonder.co.uk

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Great Western 5051 Earl Bathurst Class Castle 4-6-0 at Didcot Railway Centre, 28.08.99 Photo and scan by René Schneider (rene.schneider@ci.educ.lu)

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GWR 4073-Class 'Castle' 4-6-0 5051 'Earl Bathurst' at the Severn Valley Railway (Date Unknown). Photo: Scott Aitken, Scan: Ross Aitken (aos@cableinet.co.uk) Website: http://wkweb4.cableinet.co.uk/aos/photography

UK_Combe_Fishacre_1_5029+5051_31_5_04.jpg (42763 bytes)

It is mid-afternoon in high summer, but Britain's very changeable weather creates an autumn evening-like situation with low cloud, humidity and a cool temperature. The exhausts of ex-GWR 4-6-0s, 5029 Nunney Castle and 5051 Earl Bathurst hang in the damp atmosphere as the locomotives charge up the 1 in 38 (2.63%) gradient at Combe Fishacre, in South Devon, returning from Penzance to Exeter. 31 May 2004. Photo and scan Roger Griffiths; jrcs@blueyonder.co.uk

UK_Combe_Fishacre_2_5029+5051_21_8_04.jpg (60818 bytes)

A day under 12 weeks later the same pair of locomotives are again seen at Combe Fishacre, but in very different conditions. The warm afternoon sunlight glints off the copper and brass fittings of 5029 and 5051 as they make another assault on the steep gradient to the western portal of Dainton Tunnel. Gone is the heavy atmospheric situation of 31 May, with almost perfect grey exhausts marking the locomotives' spirited and awe-inspiring progress. 21 August 2004. Photo and scan Roger Griffiths; jrcs@blueyonder.co.uk

UK_Bridgwater_7029_and_5051_9_1985.jpg (55084 bytes)

UK The sun breaks through storm clouds to light ex-GWR Castle Class 4-6-0 7029 Clun Castle and 5051 Earl Bathurst near Bridgwater, September 1985 Photo and scan Roger Griffiths jrcs@blueyonder.co.uk