Steam Locomotive Information

Here is the photo album for Great Western Railway No. 4079 'Pendennis Castle', a 4-6-0 located in Didcot, Berkshire. If you would like to suggest additional photos for this album, please click here.

Under restoration following its return from Australia 'Pendennis Castle' is seen in the workshops in September 2016.

Pictured in the condition on arrival back from Australia

Overhaul after repatriation completed, we see the Great Western four cylinder arrangement with divided drive. The outside pair of cylinders are set back and drive the middle axle whilst the inside pair are further forward driving the leading coupled axle. The piston rod from the right hand inside cylinder is visible through the opening in the frame. Only one set of valve gear for each pair of cylinders with a rocking lever to drive the outside valve from the inside valve gear. This is visible forward of the outside cylinder.

Still some work to do on the paintwork but the typical brass nameplate shines.

Pendennis Castle and Flying Scotsman meeting up again at Didcot on 31st May 2025. This was the first time that the two locos had been seen together since the pair met in Australia in the late 1980s. As the number of visitors shows, it was a popular event and our correspondent was there to record the event.

On the turntable at the Great Western Society's base at Didcot in early April 2020.

Back in service after an overhaul lasting 21 years following repatriation from Western Australia where it had been for 23 years. Here the loco is running on the demonstration line at the Great Western Society's base at Didcot in early April 2020.

Standing in the spring sunshine at Didcot in early April 2020.

'Pendennis Castle' in the workshops of the Great Western Society at Didcot in the summer of 2021 with the overhaul from the condition found on its repatriation from Australia nearing completion..

The lineup of four members of the GWR 'Castle' class outside the shed at Didcot during the 'Four Castles' event, 4th March 2023. From the left, 'Pendennis Castle', 'Earl of Mount Edgecumbe', 'Drysllwyn Castle' and 'Clun Castle'.

'Pendennis Castle' taking water at Ropley, during its visit to the Mid Hants Railway's Spring Steam Gala, 29th April 2023.

'Pendennis Castle' whilst visiting the Epping Ongar Railway's Great Western themed steam gala on the 24th of June 2023

'Pendennis Castle' pictured in immaculate condition outside the shed at Didcot during the 'Four Castles' event, 4th March 2023.

Line up by the turntable at the Tyseley Locomotive Works Open Day on June 17th 2021. Left to right: 4695 'Rood Ashton Hall', 7029 'Clun Castle', 5043 'Earl of Mount Edgcumbe', 4079 'Pendennis Castle' and 5080 'Defiant'

'Pendennis Castle' whilst visiting the Epping Ongar Railway's Great Western themed steam gala on the 24th of June 2023

Contrasts in the front ends of 'Castle' class locos at the Tyseley Locomotive Works Open Day on June 17th 2021. On the left, 5043 'Earl of Mount Edgcumbe' modified in the 1950s with a double chimney, and on the right 4079 'Pendennis Castle' unmodified with a single chimney.

Flashback to the loco's time in Australia: No. 4079 'Pendennis Castle' on her first run on the Hammersley Iron Railway in Western Australia in 1978. The setting is in the arid area of the iron ore hauling railway from the mine at Mount Tom Price and the port at Dampier. Ore trains are very long hauled by Australian built versions of American designed locos as shown here.

Pendennis Castle's typical Great Western style footplate .

Flashback to the loco's time in Australia: No. 4079 'Pendennis Castle' in Perth, Western Australia 1989

Flashback to the loco's time in Australia: 'Pendennis Castle' and 'Flying Scotsman' in a somewhat unlikely meeting place - Perth, Western Australia in 1989.

Pendennis Castle and Flying Scotsman meeting up again at Didcot on 31st May 2025. Two very different approaches to express passenger loco design. Pendennis Castle is a four cylinder 4-6-0 with a narrow firebox whilst Flying Scotsman is a three cylinder Pacific with a wide firebox.

Flashback to the loco's time in Australia: No. 4079 'Pendennis Castle' on her first run on the Hammersley Iron Railway in Western Australia in 1978


Great Western Railway 4-6-0 No. 4079 'Pendennis Castle' Didcot, Berkshire, UK	Location: Didcot Railway Centre Status: Operational