| GWR Mogul 7325 | |
|---|---|
.jpg) 7325 in The Engine House | |
| Built By | GWR Swindon Works |
| Configuration | 2-6-0 |
| Power class | 4MT |
| Status | Out of service |
| Loco Number | 7325 |
| Other Numbers | 9303 |
| History | |
| Built | 1932 |
| Designed By | George Jackson Churchward |
| Type | GWR 4300 |
| 1975 | Arrived on SVR |
| 2000 | Withdrawn for overhaul |
| Technical | |
| Length | 58ft 1¼" |
| Weight | 62t 0cwt |
| Tractive effort | 25,670 lb |
| Pressure | 200 lb/sq in |
7325 (formerly numbered 9303) is a GWR 4300 Class 2-6-0 (mogul) steam locomotive.
Contents
7325 in service
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 and reduce wear on the leading driving 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 in order to increase its route availability. After further allocations to Ebbw Junction (Newport) and Severn Tunnel Junction, 7325 was withdrawn from service at Pontypool Road in July 1963.[2]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 Scrapyard on 13 August 1975 in convoy with GWR 2857.[3] 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 summer 1992 as no 7325.
Between 1995 and 1998, 7325 made the following appearances on the main line:
| Date | Tour name | Route | Notes | Web | SVR News |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 May 1995 | Kidderminster-Newport-Gloucester-Worcester | D/H with 7802 from Gloucester. L/E from Worcester due to hot box on tender. | 115-44 | ||
| 04 Nov 1995 | Stourbridge - Bristol - Swansea | D/H with 70000 Britannia, 7325 failed at Swansea due to hot box on tender. Possible duplicate of 11 November[4] | |||
| 11 Nov 1995 | Stourbridge - Bristol - Swansea | D/H with 70000 Britannia from Bristol | 117-2 | ||
| 18 May 1996 | Steam on the Met | London Underground 'Steam on the Met' (2 weekends) | SBJ | ||
| 19 May 1996 | Steam on the Met | London Underground 'Steam on the Met' (2 weekends) | SBJ | ||
| 25 May 1996 | Steam on the Met | London Underground 'Steam on the Met' (2 weekends) | SBJ | 119-58 | |
| 26 May 1996 | Steam on the Met | London Underground 'Steam on the Met' (2 weekends) | SBJ | ||
| 27 May 1996 | Steam on the Met | London Underground 'Steam on the Met' (2 weekends) | SBJ | ||
| 11 Jan 1997 | Taffy Apple | Worcester-Hereford-Swansea-Gloucester-Worcester | D/H with 42968 | 122-4 | |
| 25 Oct 1997 | Meldon Meanderer | Bristol - Exeter - Meldon Quarry | D/H with 42968 | 125-70 | |
| 08 Nov 1997 | Pilgrims Progres | Exeter - Plymouth - Bristol | D/H with 42968 | 125-70 | |
| 15 Nov 1997 | Hardy Flyer | Bristol Temple Meads - Yeovil Pen Mill - Bristol | D/H with 42968 | 126-48 | |
| 22 Nov 1997 | Lickey Incliner | Bristol-Bromsgrove-Stourbridge-Gloucester | D/H with 42968, first preserved steam on the Lickey Incline | 126-2 | |
| 31 Jan 1998 | Inclined Salopian | Gloucester - Lickey Incline - Bescot | D/H with 42968 | 126-49 | |
| 21 Mar 1998 | Chester Chuffer | Bescot-Chester + return | SBJ | ||
| For further information on sources and references, see The Severn Valley Railway on the main line | |||||
7325 last saw service in August 2000 and was on display in The Engine House from its opening until March 2019, when the locomotive moved to storage in the Kidderminster Carriage Shed. At the Engine Shed the 'footplate' was accessible to allow visitors to climb aboard and learn how to operate a steam locomotive, and for weddings and civil ceremonies. The Association's web site stated “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.” In addition, it states “A possible start [on overhaul] could be made during 2018/19.”[5] In September 2018 the SVR commented it would take its place before 7819, after work on locomotives under overhaul had progressed.[6]
See also
References
- ↑ GWR Archive Retrieved 28 January 2015.
- ↑ BRDatabase Retrieved 28 January 2015.
- ↑ SVR Stock Book Ninth Edition
- ↑ Shown as 4 November in Siviter (2008)
- ↑ GW(SVR)A website (Retrieved 9 July 2017)
- ↑ Express Points September 2018
Links
Great Western (SVR) Assoc. 9303 page
GWR 4300 Class on Wikipedia
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