Image Licensing : No 5051 Drysllwyn Castle outside Swindon Works

EDITORS COMMENTS

No. 5051 Drysllwyn Castle, a majestic 4-6-0 Castle class locomotive built in 1936, is captured outside Swindon Works in this evocative photograph from the Steam Museum of the Great Western Railway (GWR). This locomotive, numbered 5051, was part of a series of 100 locomotives designed by Charles Collett, Chief Mechanical Engineer of the GWR, between 1923 and 1950. The Castle class locomotives were named after Welsh castles and were renowned for their power, agility, and elegant design. The photograph showcases the locomotive in its industrial setting, with the imposing red brick walls of Swindon Works in the background. The steam engine, adorned with intricate details and ornate castings, stands proudly on the railway tracks, its large chimney billowing out plumes of white steam. The engine's polished brass fittings and gleaming metal surfaces reflect the sunlight, adding to its striking appearance. The Castle class locomotives were the backbone of the GWR's express passenger services during the interwar period and into the 1960s. They were capable of reaching impressive speeds, making them ideal for long-distance journeys. The locomotive in this photograph, No. 5051 Drysllwyn Castle, would have been a familiar sight on the railways of the south-west of England and Wales. The Steam Museum of the Great Western Railway is home to an impressive collection of historic locomotives and railway memorabilia. This photograph of No. 5051 Drysllwyn Castle outside Swindon Works is a testament to the rich railway heritage of the GWR and the enduring appeal of these magnificent steam engines.