EXPRESS PASSENGER locomotives from THE 'BIG FOUR' in action at BISHOPS LYDEARD on the WEST SOMERSET!

A compilation of footage from the archives, showing some of the premier locomotives of the 'Big Four' railway companies which have appeared the West Somerset Railway in recent years.

The 'Big Four' term was used to describe the four largest railway companies in UK as a result of the Railways Act 1921 which came into effect on 1st January 1923. This ran through until 1st January 1948, where the four main companies were nationalised to form British Railways as a result of the Transport Act 1947.

The four regions each had a frontline express engine, the Great Western Railway had the mighty King and Castle Class 4-6-0s to handle their principal GWR express trains from London to the West of England. 6024 ‘King Edward I’ is currently undergoing overhaul at Locomotive Services Crewe Works, and this locomotive has previously visited for railtours and gala events over the years but we focus in this video more recently in June 2023 when the BR Castle Class variant of a GWR 4073 Castle Class, 7029 ‘Clun Castle’ arrive with the 'Whistling Ghost' railtour, to be relieved by GWR Manors 7828 'Odney Manor' + 7812 'Erlestoke Manor' .

Then there’s the Southern region, whose main express engine was the Merchant Navy class Bulleid Pacific, an example of which visited back in 2018 when Merchant Navy Locomotive Preservation Societies immaculate 35028 ‘Clan Line’ headed the 'Quantock Intruder' from London, and ran the full length of the line to Minehead!

The big rivalry in the North came between the London North Eastern Railway and London Midland Scottish Railway, whose mighty Pacifics have graced the West Somerset with inbound railtours in recent years, and we have had the legendary red engines of the LMS, such as the Princess Royal class 6201 ‘Princess Elizabeth’ which hauled the 'West Somerset Steam Express' in 2016 and Coronation Duchess pacific 6233 ‘Duchess of Sutherland’ which arrived at the head of the West Somerset Steam Express in 2019.

The flagship locomotives of the London North Eastern Railway, were Sir Nigel Gresley's iconic streamlined A4 Pacific’s, with the example 4464 ‘Mallard’ still holding the world speed record for a steam engine! Examples of the class are represented by 60009 'Union of South Africa' and 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley'.

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CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Intro
0:24 - Great Western Railway
8:52 - Southern Railway
16:48 - London Midland & Scottish Railway
36:26 - London North Eastern Railway

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