Ex works in 1957 but still with a 'cycling lion'.

The workforce at Swindon certainly knew how to turn out an overhauled engine in fine condition ready to return to service , and Old Oak Common's 7027 " Thornbury Castle " is in pristine new colours in this image from 1957 .
Its early years from 1949 saw " Thornbury Castle " at Plymouth's Laira Depot prior to its move to Old Oak Common ten years later , the engine being thereafter transferred to Worcester in May 1960 , that Depot having a reputation for its well kept "Castles " , but it was there for just three years before its final move to Reading in August of 1963 from where it was withdrawn that same December .
Purchased from Dai Woodham's scrapyards in Barry in August of 1972 and going initially to the Birmingham Railway Museum a move in 1989 took the engine to the Dart Valley Rilway at Buckfastleigh in Devon .
Later years saw 7027 moved again , this time initially to the Crewe Heritage Centre and then to the Peak Rail Centre at Rowsley , by now nothing but a folorn and derelict hulk of its former self.
Now at Weston super Mare , having been again repurchased , it is planned to finally restore 7027 , probably with most of the work being carried out at Tyseley in Birmingham from where the engine began its chequered life in preservation some forty five years ago !