6000 King George V at Swindon having just hauled the last King-hauled train from Wolverhampton and Birmingham Snow Hill (1962). Note the bell which was given to the engine when it toured the U.S. This engine is now preserved.

Great Western Railway (GWR) 6000 Class 6000 King George V is a preserved British steam locomotive.

The locomotive was the first of the "King" Class, and was built in June 1927. It was shipped to the United States in August 1927 to feature in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's centenary celebrations. During the celebrations it was presented with a bell and a plaque, and these are carried to this day. This led to it being affectionately known as "The Bell".

The bell carries the inscription:

After returning from the US it was allocated to Old Oak Common, but was moved to Bristol in 1950. It was subsequently allocated to Old Oak Common again in 1959, to be withdrawn by the Western Region of British Railways in December 1962 after covering 1,910,424 miles (3,074,529 km).

The locomotive was officially preserved, being restored to main line running order and based at Bulmer's Railway Centre in Hereford and in 1971 became the very first steam engine to break the mainline steam ban that had been in place since 1969. Its restoration to main line service and subsequent operation is often credited with opening the door for the return of steam to the main lines of the UK. After years of running a costly overhaul was declined since other members of the class ("King Edward I" and "King Edward II") had been restored for operation. These have had their original chimneys, cabs and safety valve bonnets cut down to allow running on the modern railway, with its much deeper ballast and consequently reduced clearance under bridges. No. 6000 is now displayed in its original condition with full-height fittings. In 2008 no. 6000 moved from the Swindon 'Steam' Railway Museum, where it had been displayed for several years, to the National Railway Museum in a swap with BR standard class 9F 92220 "Evening Star".

[edit] Gallery

As was displayed as a static exhibit at the Swindon 'Steam' Railway Museum	Close-up of the bell	Nameplate	Part of the backhead
King George V at National Railway Museum, York.

[edit] References

• Wood, G. C. (1972). 6000 King George V – a chronology. Hereford: 6000 Locomotive Association. 

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