It was withdrawn in December 1963, and acquired by Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, South Wales in June 1964.

In 1996, Birmingham Railway Museum trustees announced the project to restore Earl of Mount Edgcumbe to main line running condition.

The proposal was to restore the locomotive to late 1950s condition, with newly constructed Hawksworth tender and BR double chimney.

The engineering team scraped down the frames, which once clean showed them to be in good condition, and given a coat of anti-corrosive green paint.

While checking the inside crossheads for repair and refitting, which were found to have been fitted at one time to sister GWR Castle 5080 Defiant.

5043 double headed a private Vintage Trains Shareholder special from Birmingham Moor Street to Didcot Parkway with classmate and fellow Tyseley resident 7029 Clun Castle.

New locations she has visited so far in preservation include: Liverpool, Llandudno, Chester, Carlisle, Salisbury, London Marylebone, Glasgow, Edinburgh and York.