GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Warwick Station: gwrw1603

Ex-Great Western Railway 4073 ‘Castle’ class No 5047 ‘Earl of Dartmouth’ in British Railway livery approaches Warwick Station from the south with the 11:10 a.m. Paddington to Birkenhead express on Saturday 25th October 1958. The rake of blood and custard coaches was typical in this period. Behind the locomotive was the site of the Warwick South Goods Yard, which had trailing connections to both up and down lines, several sidings and a two road goods shed. Only two sidings remained at this date and they were removed in July 1961. The Down Refuge Siding (the line nearest to the photographer) could hold 36 wagons plus an engine and brakevan. It was taken out of use in June 1968. No 5047 was built at Swindon Works in April 1936 as part of lot 303. Originally the locomotive carried the name ‘Compton Castle’, but this was changed to ‘Earl of Dartmouth’ in August 1937. This name had been given to the new 4-4-0 32xx class No 3204 built a few months after No 5047 in August 1936, but it is said that some of the exalted personages took a dim view of their names appearing on such small engines and as a result the Great Western Railway responded by transferring the names to the larger ‘Castle’ class. At nationalisation in December 1947 No 5047 was known to have been allocated a Newton Abbot shed (NA). No 5047 never had a double chimney fitted and was withdrawn in September 1962.

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