3205 - ‘2251’ class tender locomotive owned by the 2251 Preservation Fund and normally based at the South Devon Railway. The locomotive, which has visited the GWR before, is expected to remain based at Toddington at least to the end of 2004.

Photograph copyright Geoff Sanders

Wheel arrangement:

0-6-0. 3205 is the sole survivor of this class of 118 locomotives

Origin:

Great Western Railway. All were built at Swindon.

Introduced:

1930. The class was developed as a modern replacement for the ageing Armstrong and Dean goods engines in use on lines in Central Wales and elsewhere. 3205 was completed in October 1946 and the last of the class were built just before nationalisation in 1948. 3205 was among the last members of the class to be withdrawn in May 1965.

Working weight:

91 tons (including tender)

Water capacity:

3,000 gallons

Purpose:

Although designed primarily for short-haul and pick-up goods, the class found favour working short haul main line trains and branch passenger traffic. With their 5ft 2in. driving wheels, they were capable of both rapid acceleration and a reasonable turn of speed. 3205 was first allocated to Gloucester and spend much of its early life locally, being allocated to Gloucester, Cheltenham and Worcester. It also spent time at Shrewsbury. Its last allocation was Templecombe on the Somerset & Dorset Railway.