MAY 9,1964: CLUN CASTLE'S DATE WITH DESTINY

摘要

THE March issue of The RM told the story of how GWR 'Castle' No. 4079 Pendennis Castle secured its place in preservation, highlighting the role it played on the famous Ian Allan 'Z48' railtour of May 9, 1964 and its influence on the loco's subsequent survival. Yet No. 4079 was not the only surviving 'Castle' to work on that history-making tour. Its younger classmate No. 7029 Clun Castle is now best-known at the flagship of the Tyscley/Vintage Trains operation, but on that May day it propelled itself into the record books, and in doing so virtually guaranteed its continued existence. The story of that journey, and the exploits of Clun Castle, is what follows. As the 1960s approached its mid-point British Railways' Western Region (BR(W)) steam was well into its twilight years. The highly lauded 'King' class 4-6-0s had all disappeared in 1962, and by the start of 1964 it appeared the popular 'Castles' were not far behind.