GWR 6023 'King Edward II' stands outside the engine shed at Didcot during a Nightshoot Evening. The locomotive was built at GWR's Swindon works in June 1930. For most of its working life it was allocated to Newton Abbott and Laira (Plymouth). It was withdrawn from Cardiff in June 1962, and was sent to Swindon for breaking up. It had one final unusual task — coupled to its twin, GWR 6024 'King Edward I', it was towed over a bridge for weight testing purposes. Both locomotives survived and ended up being sold to Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, South Wales. Whilst GWR 6024 'King Edward I' was saved in 1974, GWR 'King Edward II' remained at the scrapyard due to the rear driving wheels being badly damaged in a shunting accident. However as part of the 150th anniversary of GWR's formation in 1985, the hulk was acquired by Messrs Harvey of Bristol and was moved to a bay platform at Bristol Temple Meads railway station called the Fish Dock. The Brunel Engineering Centre Trust, under a Manpower Services Scheme, completely dismantled 6023 and restoration began. Work continued until the autumn of 1988 when the MS scheme funding was withdrawn and the future of 6023 was cast into doubt. 6023 was then bought by the Great Western Society and moved to Didcot in March 1990 for its restoration to continue. The restoration has included the casting of new rear driving wheels in 1994, followed by re-wheeling the chassis in 1995. The casting is notable since it is thought to be the first wheels to be created for a standard gauge locomotive in preservation. The damaged wheels were also acquired by the Great Western Society at Didcot and can today be seen on display there. On 12 April 2010, King Edward II's boiler passed its steam test, and on 20th January 2011 it moved for the first time under its own power since 1962. It is due to re-enter service on 2nd April 2011. Painted in early BR blue and fitted with a single chimney GWR 6023 'King Edward II' provides a good comparison with the later standard BR Brunswick Green livery and double chimney currently carried by GWR 6000 'King George V' and GWR6024 'King Edward I'.
