Banchango
GWR 2-8-2T 7200.
Sunday 20th September 1987 and 7200 seen as stored in the open at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre.
This locomotive was built by The Great Western Railway at Swindon Works in 1930 as a 2-8-0T of Class 5205. It was originally intended for use on fairly short haul heavy coal trains like many running in the South Wales Valleys. However the depression in the 1930 reduced the demand for coal making many of these locomotives surplus to requirements and to be put in store when new or nearly new. In order to increase the versatility of these locomotives a number were rebuilt with extended bunkers and a trailing bogie which increased their range and saw them back in traffic again. 7200 emerged from Swindon works in this form in 1934.
7200 was withdrawn in in July 1963 and sold to Woodham Brothers for scrap arriving at their yard at Barry Docks in November of that year. Its sale to Woodhams proved its salvation as that company cut up very few of the many locomotives it acquired. In September 1981 after languishing there for almost 18 years it left Barry for preservation at the Buckingham Railway Centre. For many years it was outside and mothballed as lack of finances and manpower prevented any serious restoration work. However work to return it to an operational condition is now proceeding although there is still a long way to go. The locomotive is now 86 years old and last worked 53 years ago. Hopefully it will not be too long before we can see her back in steam.
GWR 2-8-2T 7200.
Sunday 20th September 1987 and 7200 seen as stored in the open at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre.
This locomotive was built by The Great Western Railway at Swindon Works in 1930 as a 2-8-0T of Class 5205. It was originally intended for use on fairly short haul heavy coal trains like many running in the South Wales Valleys. However the depression in the 1930 reduced the demand for coal making many of these locomotives surplus to requirements and to be put in store when new or nearly new. In order to increase the versatility of these locomotives a number were rebuilt with extended bunkers and a trailing bogie which increased their range and saw them back in traffic again. 7200 emerged from Swindon works in this form in 1934.
7200 was withdrawn in in July 1963 and sold to Woodham Brothers for scrap arriving at their yard at Barry Docks in November of that year. Its sale to Woodhams proved its salvation as that company cut up very few of the many locomotives it acquired. In September 1981 after languishing there for almost 18 years it left Barry for preservation at the Buckingham Railway Centre. For many years it was outside and mothballed as lack of finances and manpower prevented any serious restoration work. However work to return it to an operational condition is now proceeding although there is still a long way to go. The locomotive is now 86 years old and last worked 53 years ago. Hopefully it will not be too long before we can see her back in steam.