Prior to 5080's transfer to Cardiff Canton from Swindon, the engine was renamed Defiant in January 1941, commemorating one of the many types of aircraft which had taken part in the Battle of Britain. The engines original name Ogmore Castle was also used on an earlier member of the class and later used by two sister engines; the name was originally allocated to 5056 before it was renamed Earl of Powis in Sept 1937. Following 5080's renaming, the Ogmore Castle was transferred to No. 7007 (later renamed Great Western in January 1948) and 7035.
It was sold to the Standard Gauge Steam Trust (since renamed Tyseley Locomotive Works), initially as spare parts for 7029 Clun Castle, and left as the 62nd departure from Barry in August 1974. Its restoration was completed in July 1987, and it ran for a number of years, appearing on various preserved lines such as the Llangollen Railway Easter 1996. After its boiler certificate expired in 1997, it was sent to be displayed at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, where it remained until May 2017 when it was returned to Tyseley.
Defiant is at present stored at Tyseley Locomotive Works, but makes appearances at Tyseley's open weekends as a static exhibit. A group called "The Defiant Club" are raising money to fund an overhaul of No. 5080 for a return to service on the mainline to work excursion trains.[3][4] As of March 2024, 5080's tender is undergoing overhaul with completion expected before the end of 2024 and the engines boiler is due to be assessed in 2024 to ascertain how much it will cost.[5] To speed up 5080's return to service, Tyseley's intention is to only overhaul the engines boiler and leave it's bottom-end intact. The engine will be overhauled only for use on heritage railways but once enough money has been raised to cover a full mechanical overhaul for 5080, the engine will be overhauled to mainline standards.[6]
Gallery
Below are a set of photos showing 5080 during its career with British Railways alongside its time at Barry Island and in preservation.
Defiant passing through Port Talbot with the West Wales Express from Paddington - Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven in April 1962.
Defiant minus tender at Woodham's Scrapyard at Barry in May 1967.
Defiant on the demonstration line at Tyseley Locomotive Works in August 1987.
Castle Class No.5080 shunts at Glyndyfrdwy on Llangollen Railway Easter 1996 (possibly 5/4/96)