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Swindon Wide

Loco legend is star of show at new Steam exhibition

A Swindon-built locomotive will be
the star turn in a new exhibition
that opens at Steam on Saturday
8 April.
King George V returned to
Swindon's Steam Museum on a
low loader in November 2015 and
received plenty of admiring glances
as it made its way into the town
from the M4.
The National Railway Museum
in York loaned the locomotive to
Steam in preparation for the town’s
Swindon175 celebrations last year,
which honoured Swindon’s railway
heritage.
Now the engine will be the focus
of attention once more as ‘King
George V – A Locomotive Legend’
opens at the museum this weekend.
The exhibition celebrates the 90th
anniversary of the building of the The King George V loco makes its journey down the M4 and inset, the loco in its heyday
famous locomotive. Council’s Leadership Manager which made Swindon a world to Britain, the locomotive resumed
Showing objects, documents for Museums and Heritage, beater.” operation on the GWR network,
and photographs from STEAM’s said: “Swindon produced many The locomotive was designed by hauling high speed passenger
collection, the exhibition explores magnificent engines, but King Charles B Collet and was the GWR’s services such as the Cornish Riviera
the story of King George V, from its George V is arguably the most most powerful 4-6-0 engine. KGV Express.
design, build and operation; through famous of them all. was the first ‘King’ Class built at King George V – A Locomotive
to its decline under British Railways “The King has a very interesting Swindon Works in June 1927, and Legend runs from 8 April to 31
and eventual return to glory when past and this new exhibition was shipped to the United States December 2017 and is included with
it was preserved as part of the encapsulates this history perfectly in August 1927 to feature in the standard admission.
National Collection. and I would urge everyone to visit Baltimore and Ohio Railroad’s For more information about Steam
Ian Surtees, Swindon Borough STEAM and learn about the engine centenary celebrations. On its return visit: www.steam-museum.org.uk

26 swindonlink.com n May 2017

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