The Blue King

After many, many years of restoration success has finally come for the team restoring GWR King 6023 'King Edward II' from scrap condition to a fully functioning locomotive in original condition with single chimney.

Withdrawn by BR in 1962 the King was steamed in preservation for the first time in 2011 and hauled it's first trains on the Mid Norfolk Railway carrying the attractive BR blue livery.

Following it's stay in Norfolk the locomotive will return to the workshops for final work to enable it to once more take charge of the mainline.

The stay of 6023 on the normally diesel hauled Mid-Norfolk railway has also presented the opportunity for the line to host it's first ever steam gala over the weekend of 16/17th July, with GWR pannier 9466 also visiting the line.

All photographs taken on 10th July 2011 at the Mid Norfolk Railway.