| 6024 'King Edward I' visited Yeovil Railway Centre from Thursday 2 February 2012 and is due to depart on Friday 10 February. The main purpose of the visit to to provide opportunities to schools and other groups to visit and learn something of the engine, steam railways and way they operate. We welcomed some 170 visitors from St Mary's School, Bradford Abbas, Maiden Newton Discussion Group, Lufton College, Norton-sub-Hamdon Primary School, Kings Arthurs, Wincanton, Trent Young's Endowed School, The Hub, Yeovil and Sherborne School for Girls. |
| 02 February 2012 6024 is seen at Castle Cary en-route from Southall to Yeovil Junction. A roundabout route via Swindon, Didcot and Bradford on Avon was required due to gauging issues at Reading West. The return journey will be via Newbury however. Yeovil Railway Centre's volunteers Pete (on the engine) and Roger (watching from support coach) can be seen. (Photo courtesy Roger Marsh) |
| 03 February 2012 Students from St Marys Primary School, Bradford Abbas line up. |
| (Photo courtesy John Cornelius) |
| Our visitors each had an explanatory talk and their questions answered and took some written information away.(Photo courtesy John Cornelius) |
| After a welcome and some details about the engine, a trip was taken down the Clifton Maybank branch. |
| 143 miles from Paddington (via Melksham!). |
| Good day for steam and interesting clouds! |
| Maiden Newton Discussion Group visited during the afternoon. (Photo courtesy John Cornelius) |
| Inspection of the turntable at close quarters. (Photo courtesy John Cornelius) |
| 5 February 2012 An extra Steam Train Day was held using 6024! (Photo courtesy Dillon James) |
| (Photo courtesy John Cornelius) |
| (Photo courtesy Dillon James) |
| Including turntable demonstrations. (Photo courtesy Dillon James) |
| Good number of visitors listening to one of the turntable talks. (Photo courtesy John Cornelius) |
| (Photo courtesy Dillon James) |
| (Photo courtesy Dillon James) |
| (Photo courtesy Dillon James) |
| (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| The Miniature Railway was operated by another 'King' in the form of the superb 6026 'King John'. (Photo courtesy John Cornelius) |
| (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| First Great Western were diverting High Speed Trains via Yeovil until early afternoon. |
| The pride of the 'new' and 'old' Great Western on Southern territory! (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| Malcolm has some new books for sale in the Shop. (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| The footplate was an attractive place (especially in view of the temperature! (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| 6 February 2012 Back to school visits. Roger & Pete prepare 6024 for action. (Photo courtesy Terry Hitchcock) |
| (Photo courtesy Terry Hitchcock) |
| (Photo courtesy Terry Hitchcock) |
| (Photo courtesy Terry Hitchcock) |
| (Photo courtesy Terry Hitchcock) |
| (Photo courtesy Terry Hitchcock) |
| A group from Lufton College attended in the morning. (Photo courtesy John Cornelius) |
| More visits to the footplate! (Photo courtesy John Cornelius) |
| In the afternoon, Judy brough a class from Norton-sub-Hamdon Primary School on the South West Trains service from Crewkerne to compare old and new trains! (Photo courtesy John Cornelius) |
| Plenty of questions to keep the volunteers on their toes! (Photo courtesy John Cornelius) |
| 7 February 2012 King Arthurs, Wincanton sent a group. (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| (Photo courtesy Kit Stallard) |
| (Photo courtesy Kit Stallard) |
| (Photo courtesy Kit Stallard) |
| Trent Youngs Endowed School. (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| 8 February 2012 (Photo courtesy Terry Hitchcock) |
| The Hub, Yeovil sent a party. (Photo courtesy John Cornelius) |
| The adults also visited the footplate! (Photo courtesy John Cornelius) |
| The obligatory photo for the Sherborne School for Girls party. (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| Photos of 6024 whilst it is run onto the turntable. (Photo courtesy John Cornelius) |
| (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| Some hardy souls from Sherborne School for Girls listen to Mike's explanation of the workings of the turntable. (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| The chain for the whistle is pulled (again - funny that!) (Photo courtesy Brian Haigh) |
| 10 February 2012 6024 returns to Southall with its support coach.(Photo courtesy Roger Marsh) |
| Early morning breakfast. (Photo courtesy Roger Marsh) |
| There has been a light dusting of snow overnight and is some moisture in the air as the engine reverses out of the Centre. |
| This is certainly the last steam and probably the last movement out of the down sidings to be signalled mechanically by Yeovil Junction box. The sidings are to be blocked until the control is moved to Basingstoke in 6 weeks time. |
| Running down the middle road. |
| Passes the dummy for the last time. 6024 is also to be withdrawn at the end of March for a full overhaul to make the engine fit for a further spell of main line running. |
| Away towards Yeovil Pen Mill. |
| You Tube video of 6024's departure added by kind permission of Chris Pamplin. |
| 50050. |
| Seen at Queen Camel between Yeovil Pen Mill and Castle Cary. (Photo courtesy Roger Marsh) |
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