Contents
7325 in service
7325 (formerly 9303) is a GWR 4300 Class 2-6-0 (mogul) steam locomotive. The 4300 class was a Churchward design first introduced in 1911, but this particular locomotive is one of a batch built in 1932 which incorporated design changes by Churchward’s successor, Charles Collett. These changes included the introduction of side window cabs, outside steam pipes, a screw reverse and a weight attached to the buffer beam to place more weight on the leading pony wheels. As a result of these modifications, this locomotive is often referred to on the SVR as the “Collett Mogul”.
The locomotive first entered service in February 1932 as GWR number 9303, and began life allocated to Penzance. Between 1947 and 1950 the locomotive was allocated to Reading.[1]
In 1953, 9303 moved to Tyseley, followed by Banbury two years later. In 1958 No 9303 was renumbered by BR as 7325, who also modified the locomotive to remove the additional buffer beam weight. After further allocations to Ebbw Junction (Newport) and Severn Tunnel Junction, 7325 was withdrawn from service at Pontypool Road in July 1963.[2]
7325 in preservation
The locomotive arrived from Barry on 13 August 1975. Although the owning group The Great Western (SVR) Association customarily refer to the locomotive by its earlier number 9303, the locomotive first entered service in <tba> as no 7325.
7325 last saw service <tba> and is presently on display in The Engine House, still numbered 7325. The Association's web site states “The plan is to replace the missing weight at the next overhaul so that it can once again run as 9303, a true Great Western engine.”
See also
Links
- ↑ [GWR Archive] Retrieved 28 January 2015.
- ↑ [BRDatabase] Retrieved 28 January 2015.