During the late 1920s, the railways of Great Britain were introducing faster and heavier trains on their major routes. To cope with these more arduous duties, the Great Western Railway introduced an improved ‘Castle’ Class: the ’King’ Class of 1927. The locomotives were to the design of Mr C. B. Collett and thirty were built between 1927 and 1930.

6024 was built at Swindon in June 1930, one of the last ten of the class (6020-9), under lot 267, at a cost of £7,175. After running in, 6024 was put to work on the GWR’s prestige services. Initially sent to Laira MPD at Plymouth. King Edward I also worked from Old Oak Common in London, and finally from Cardiff Canton. Covering 1,570,015 miles and hauling such trains as the Cornish Riviera Express and the Red Dragon, the locomotive spent its entire working life on ‘top link’ duties.

In September of 1953, 6024 received a new WB type boiler. It was probably at this time that new cylinders and front frame were fitted, the latter modifications being applied to all members of the class. Early in 1956 the whole class was withdrawn from service temporarily when fatigue cracks were noticed in the bogie frames. Strengthening plates were quickly devised and the locomotives were all back in service within a short time. Newly-developed double blast pipes and chimneys were also fitted to the ’Kings’ in the later 1950’s, and King Edward I received this treatment in March 1957.

The great change in British Rail locomotive policy was not to put this new equipment to good use however, and just over five years later, on June 1962, 6024 was condemned for scrap and sold to Woodham Brothers of Barry. Eleven years were spent in the salt-laden sea before the 6024 Preservation Society purchased the engine, bringing it to Quainton at the end of March 1973.

In 1989, sixteen years since restoration began, King Edward I ran several demonstration trains at Quainton. To enable the locomotive to be used on Mainline specials, the 6024 Preservation Society decided to move King Edward I to the Brimingham Railway Museum in 1989. Since then it has visited several preserved railways around the country, as well as being a regular performer on Mainline specials. Her third 10 year overhaul started in October 2002, re-entering service on 7th October 2004, again based out of Tysley.

References:
To Restore a Great Western King - Quainton News No. 16 June 1973