The GWR Kings

By 1926 the demand for a locomotive still larger than the 4-cylinder Castle was becoming apparent and the CME was instructed by the Great Western's General Manager Sir Felix Pole to proceed with the design and construction of a Super-Castle, capable of hauling heavier passenger expresses on the Great Western between Paddington and Bristol, the West of England and the Midlands at average speeds around 60 mph. The 4-6-0 design which emerged from Swindon works in June 1927, eventually known as the King class, took on dimensions never previously seen, and represented the ultimate development of Churchward's four cylinder concept. They were the heaviest (136 tons), and had the highest tractive effort (40,300 lbs.) of any 4-6-0 locomotive ever to run in the United Kingdom.

In all thirty Kings were built at Swindon works, in two batches in 1927-28 and 1930. No. 6024 King Edward I was completed in the second batch (Lot 267) of ten locomotives on the 30th June 1930, for a cost of £7,500, and was set to work•on the 5th July 1930. It completed 237,871 miles before its first heavy overhaul in January 1935, averaging over sixty thousand miles in service for each of its first five years.