Great Western Railway 'Castle' Class


A prototype model was recently shown at the annual Railway Festival at the GWR Museum, Swindon.
All the experts admired it greatly.

A 4 cylinder layout with inside Walschaert gear has been designed from scratch.

Note: The new Aster Castle bears no similarity to the King George V issued by Aster nearly 20 years ago.

In stock now.

Run size is expected to be 285 pieces. There are two liveries GWR and British Railways.

Detail specification in the table below.

Pictures above and immediately below are of the prototypes with several known errors
which have been corrected on the shipping models.

Further down on this page are some pictures of completed kit built models.

GWR style lamps available again - £20 for 3 inc P&P in UK.

Also suitable for Aster Pannier Tank, Aster KGV
and Aster BR 9F / Evening Star

Also Lamps in Red with clear lens available soon.

The Great Western Kingswear Castle prototype - Photo: Geoff Calver
The specifications for this model are as follows: -
Cylinders Four: 10mm bore x 20mm stroke
Valve gear Walschaert valve gear reversible from cab
Boiler: ‘C’ type with superheater. 254 cc at 80% full.
Boiler fittings Regulator, blower, pressure gauge, water gauge with blowdown, clack valve and one safety valve.
Axle pump: Fitted to loco with bypass valve 5mm bore x 6mm stroke
Lubricator: Oil tank in cab under footplate - Roscoe displacement type.
Tender: Lift out fuel tank, 258cc meths. Water tank with hand pump. 250cc
Dimensions Length of loco & tender overall = 628mm. Total weight 5.38kg

Photos: Phillip Taylor

Dave Stick's St Mawes Castle awaits the ‘right a’way’ at Buckfastleigh.

Andrew Pullen gets down to running his Castle at Colney Heath. Photos Patrick O'Donnell

GWR No 5018 St Mawes Castle built and photographed by Dave Stick

A view of the valve chests and the 'front end'. Photo Aster Hobby
The following photos show Dave Stick's St. Mawes Castle No. 5018

Here is a view of the four cylinder blocks

The bogie, expansion links and buffer beam.

Cab controls

Crank axle

Crosshead close-up

A powerful front end

The completed chassis - note the oil pots on the coupling rods...

Another view of the finished model.
The last four photos by Dave Stick

Kingswear Castle, kit built and photographed by Eric Norris

5027 Farleigh Castle built by Martin Parham

Here is Geoff Uren's Brecon Castle...

and St Donats Castle. Below they sit side by side.

St Mawes Castle on the turntable