Rivals Reunited | 60103 ‘Flying Scotsman’ & 4079 ‘Pendennis Castle’ – Didcot Railway Centre

Marking 100 years since meeting at the British Empire Exhibition in 1925, LNER Gresley A3 Pacific 60103 ‘Flying Scotsman’ sits on display alongside GWR Castle Class 4079 ‘Pendennis Castle’ at Didcot Railway Centre.

1925 saw locomotive exchanges between the LNER and GWR: Trials made to compare the relatively new Gresley A1s and Collett’s Castles. Whilst the GWR sent 4079 ‘Pendennis Castle’ to Kings Cross shed, the LNER traded over 4474 ‘Victor Wild’. One of 4079’s first trials was the steep climb out of King Cross Station hauling a 16-coach train. LNER staff were keen to make their doubts in the 4-6-0’s ability known, even going as far as placing bets. Despite the LNER’s cynicism however, 4079 romped through Gasworks and Copenhagen Tunnels without fuss, leaving jaws on the floor and wallets lighter. Repeated runs during the exchange trials would see 4079 repeatedly reaching Finsbury Park in less than six minutes.

Luck wasn’t with the LNER over on the Great Western Mainline either, as 4474 struggled to match the performance of the GWR’s own on runs between Paddington and Plymouth. The following years would see the LNER make a number of modifications to members of the A1, before eventually rebuilding the class as the A3.

The 9th May 1925 would see the opening of that year’s British Empire Exhibition at Wembley, with several railway displays taking up residence in the Palace of Engineering. 4472 ‘Flying Scotsman’ had been displayed at the exhibition a year prior by the LNER, and was selected again to represent the company for the 1925 event. The GWR meanwhile had displayed first of the Castle Class 4073 ‘Caerphilly Castle’ in 1924, and in 1925 opted to display 4079 ‘Pendennis Castle’ to the visiting crowds, alongside the Gresley Pacific, much to the dismay of the LNER following the recent exchange trials.

It is also worth noting that the 1924/25 Empire Exhibition buildings, in addition to the original Wembley Stadium, had been built by the construction firm of Sir Robert McAlpine, also known as “Concrete Bob”, father to the late railway preservationist Sir William McAlpine. William McAlpine would come to own both 4472 and 4079 during his lifetime.

In preservation, 4472 and 4079 would meet several times, most notably in 1989, half-way around the globe in Perth, Australia. At this time, 4079 was owned by the Rio Tinto Railway, having been resident in Australia since 1977. 4472 meanwhile was under the custodianship of McAlpine, partaking in a tour across the country as part of the Aus Steam ‘88 festival. It was during this tour that ‘Scotsman’ would set the World Record for the longest non-stop journey made by a steam locomotive, covering 422 miles (679km) between Parkes and Broken Hill in New South Wales.

Whilst 4472 would return to the UK at the end of 1989, 4079 would remain down-under until the turn of the millennia, returning to Britain in July 2000. Following overhaul over 20 years later, 4079 would officially return to steam at Didcot Railway Centre on 2nd April 2022.

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LOCOS & STOCK
LNER A3 Pacific 60103 'Flying Scotsman'
GWR Castle Class 4079 'Pendennis Castle'
GWR Diesel Railcar No.22
British Rail Class 14 D9516
British Rail Class 52 D1023 'Western Fusilier'
BR(W) Modified Hall Class 6998 'Burton Agnes Hall'
GWR King Class 6023 'King Edward II'
WTC 0-4-0 No.5 'Shannon'
GWR Hall Class 5900 'Hinderton Hall'
GWR Castle Class 5051 'Drysllwyn Castle'
GWR Manor Class 7808 'Cookham Manor'
Kitsons/GWR 0-4-0ST 1338
Avonside/GWR 0-4-0ST 1340 'Trojan'

Filmed on 14th May 2025.