G.W.R. 0-6-2T 6695

6695 was completed at Armstrong Whitworth’s Newcastle works in October 1928 and was given works number 983. 6695 was originally deployed to Tyseley and then in April 1929 to Leamington hauling outer suburban passenger services In September 1934, 6695 was transferred to freight work at Oxley near Wolverhampton and then to Wolverhampton Stafford Road in February 1938 but returned to Oxley in January 1939.

 

It was later withdrawn from service in July 1964, after completing more than 620,000 miles, and sold to Woodham’s Scrapyard at Barry Island in South Wales. The locomotive left the Barry scrapyard in May 1979 following its purchase by the 56XX Tank Group (From 1995 called the 6695 Locomotive Group) and was then dismantled at Swanage. By 2006 the restoration work was completed at Herston Works. In 2015 it was damaged whilst being transported on a low-loader and subsequently dismantled and prepared for a full overhaul. The overhaul has since started on the West Somerset Railway with the locomotive expected to steam again in 2018 or 2019.

 

During 2017 discussions between the locomotive owners (the 6695 Locomotive Group) and the Swanage Railway resulted in an agreement for 6695 to stay on the West Somerset Railway for a 25 year period following the completion of the overhaul at Williton.In July 2022 the locomotive had a fire lit in its boiler in July 2022 with the hope that it would be in traffic in September of that year.

 

The locomotive was returned to steam in September 2022 and an official launch into traffic was planned for 2023.

 

And here it is now on the Great Central Railway working a freight service past Rabbits Bridge heading for Loughbouorgh Central.

Done