Preserved steam locomotives of British Rail

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Almost from the beginning of our railways, attempts have been made to preserve examples of the most significant locomotive designs. By the end of mainline steam in 1968, there was a reasonable mix of public and private preservation (mainly on static display in museums) together with a selection of working mainly narrow gauge locos on a few heritage lines.

One of the many scrap yards involved in cutting up the large numbers of redundant locomotives had other priorities and left over 200 of them rusting in their Woodhams Brothers yard at Barry.

From 1968 they began to allow groups of enthusiasts to purchase these rusting hulks for preservation. Incredibly, over the next 40 years, almost all of the remaining 213 locos were rescued. Most of these have been lovingly restored to working order and now power the many heritage lines and main line 'specials' up and down Britain.

Great Western and Southern railway fans were particularly fortunate as these types were in the majority at Barry. A good number of former LMS and standard types also escaped the cutter's torch.

Unfortunately, at Barry and largely elsewhere, preservation has not been kind to locomotives of the former LNER. Far fewer examples of what was probably the most diverse range of engines have been saved.

Some of the rescued locos have been used to provide spare parts or as sacrificial donors to projects attempting to re-create examples of lost 'classes'.

Almost unbelievably, the railway preservation movement has begun the build new examples of those loco designs which were not saved. The finest example to date has been the construction of a brand new LNER A1 locomotive, 60163 Tornado, but dozens of similar projects are now underway, and are expected to appear on our rails over the next 10 to 20 years.

There are currently over 400 former BR steam locomotives preserved in Britain (not including many additional former industrial examples). Most have been captured in action by Geograph contributors and I have attempted to illustrate this great heritage using their input.

I have used up to three shots of each locomotive; where possible, including a shot from BR days (usually thanks to the fantastic contributions by Ben Brooksbank,)

There are still gaps in the Geograph coverage, which I have marked as 'missing'. Please let me know if you manage to upload some shots to fill the blanks!

Former G.W.R. Locomotives:

Numbers 3 to 3862

3, 'Sir Haydn', Corris 0-4-2ST, Talyllyn Railway

4, 'Edward Thomas', Corris 0-4-2ST, Talyllyn Railway

7, 'Owain Glyndwr', VoR 2-6-2T, Vale of Rheidol Railway Railway

8, 'LLywelyn', VoR 2-6-2T, Vale of Rheidol Railway

9, 'Prince of Wales', VoR 2-6-2T, Vale of Rheidol Railway

426, (TVR no 85), Taff Vale Railway 0-6-2T, Keighley & Worth Valley


Missing from Geograph >>>> 450, (TVR no 28), Taff Vale Railway, 0-6-2T, Dean Forest Railway (NRM)

813, Port Talbot Railway, 0-6-0ST, Severn Valley Railway

822, 'The Earl' 0-6-0T, Welshpool & Llanfair Railway

823, 'The Countess', 0-6-0T, Welshpool & Llanfair Railway

1338, Cardiff Railway 0-6-0ST, Didcot Railway Centre

1340, 'Trojan', Alexandra Docks Railway, 0-6-0ST Didcot Railway Centre

1363, GWR 0-6-0ST, Didcot Railway Centre

1369, GWR 1366 0-6-0PT, South Devon Railway

1420, GWR 1400 0-4-2T, South Devon Railway

1442, GWR 1400 0-4-2T, Tiverton Museum

1450, GWR 1400 0-4-2T, Severn Valley Railway

1466, GWR 1400 0-4-2T, Didcot Railway Centre

1501, GWR 1500 0-6-0PT, Severn Valley Railway

1638, GWR 1600 0-6-0PT, Kent and East Sussex Railway


Missing from Geograph >>>> 2516, GWR Dean Goods, 0-6-0, 'STEAM' (National Railway Museum)

2807, GWR 2-8-0 2800, Glos & Warwickshire Railway

2818, GWR 2800 2-8-0, 'STEAM' (National Railway Museum)

2857, GWR 2800 2-8-0, Severn Valley Railway


Missing from Geograph >>>> 2859, GWR 2800 2-8-0, Cambi works at Congleton

2874, GWR 2800 2-8-0, Glos & Warwickshire Railway

2885, GWR 2800 2-8-0, Tyseley Works

3205, GWR 2251 0-6-0, South Devon Railway

3440 City of Truro City, GWR 4-4-0, National Railway Museum

3650, GWR 5700 0-6-0PT, Didcot Railway Centre

3738, GWR 5700 0-6-0PT, Didcot Railway Centre

3802, GWR 2800 2-8-0, Llangollen Railway

3803, GWR 2800 2-8-0, South Devon Railway

3814, GWR 2800 2-8-0, Llangollen Railway

3822, GWR 2800 2-8-0, Didcot Railway Centre


Missing from Geograph >>>> 3845, GWR 2800 2-8-0, Private, West Midlands

3850, GWR 2800 2-8-0, Glos & Warwickshire Railway


Missing from Geograph >>>> 3855, GWR 2800 2-8-0' East Lancs Ralway

Missing from Geograph >>>> 3862, GWR 2800 2-8-0, Northampton & Lamport Railway

2999, Lady of Legend GWR 'Saint' 4-6-0, (New Build), Didcot Railway Centre

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