2807

2807 is-

The oldest survivor of the class
The oldest locomotive built by the GWR preserved privately (two older surviving GWR locomotives, the Deans Goods built in 1897, and City of Truro built in 1903, are both in the national collection).
The oldest locomotive saved from Woodham Brothers scrapyard

2807 was completed in October 1905. Following early shed allocations to Westbourne Park and Old Oak Common in the Paddington area, in 1911 2807 embarked upon eight years of coal traffic in South Wales, operating first from Aberdare and later Pontypool Road.

The First World War saw 2807 performing on the famous “Jellicoe Specials”, hauling Welsh steam coal destined for the Grand Fleet at Scappa Flow. GWR 2800 class engines worked the South Wales to Lancashire section of this round the clock service.

After the First World War, 2807 moved to Bristol and later, in 1924 to Tyseley, from where it is believed to have frequently visited the Stratford – Cheltenham main line, passing through Broadway, Toddington and Winchcombe. BR motive power depot allocations since 1948 are shown below.

Date Arrived	Depot
January 1948	Hereford
June 1948	Worcester
August 1948	Hereford
July 1951	Worcester
September 1957	Chester
June 1958	Pontypool Road
June 1958	Ebbw Junction
December 1958	Newton Abbott
May 1960	Severn Tunnel Junction

After completing 1,472,687 miles and over 57 years of use, that No. 2807 was withdrawn in March 1963 from Severn Tunnel Junction depot and moved to Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry in November 1963 where it remained for 17 years.

The locomotive was rescued in June 1981 by its current owners, Cotswold Steam Preservation Limited (C.S.P.). In 1981 2807 was moved to Toddington railway station on the Gloucester Warwickshire Railway to become the first steam locomotive on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. It was restored to steam in 2010.

Whilst visiting the North Yorkshire Moors Railway in 2016 it suffered a boiler tube failure which resulted in the tube being plugged at both ends to temporarily seal the failure and allowed the locomotive to operate.

Although a new tube was subsequently fitted, there are fears that the failure could be a sign that the other boiler tubes could also fail in the short-term. As the engine was already seven years into its 10-year ticket it was known that if there were any further problems, a decision on whether to withdraw the locomotive for a full heavy general overhaul would be required. Plans were developed to mitigate the risk.

2807 was taken out of service in January 2017 but returned to traffic the following year.

The boiler certificate expired in November 2019 but its life was extended for a short period. Its last day in service was the 1^st January 2020. When taken out of service the locomotive had travelled over 42,000 miles since it was returned to steam in 2010.

It was anticipated that the boiler would be transported to Riley & Son (E) Ltd at Heywood for overhaul in mid 2020 following the letting of a contract for the work. The Work started at Heywood in late June.

In November 2020 it was reported that the cylinders had been re-bored by Riley & Son (E) Ltd at the GWR. At the same time it was stated that the boiler was in better condition than expected and that only the bottom third of the smokebox needed to be replaced plus some remedial work on the firebox backhead. It had been thought that a whole new smokebox and the replacement of three quarters of the backhead would be required.

In March 2021 the owners announced that the work to overhaul the boiler had been agreed with Riley & Son (E) Ltd.

The aim was to have the locomotive back in service in mid-2022.

In October 2022 the bottom end of the locomotive was transported to Riley & Son € Ltd where the boiler and firebox were fitted. The aim is to have the locomotive in service for Easter 2023.