2873 was built at Swindon in 1919. BR motive power depot allocations since 1948 are shown below.
| Date Arrived | Depot |
| January 1948 | Exeter |
| August 1950 | Newton Abbott |
| May 1951 | Severn Tunnel Junction |
| February 1954 | Ebbw Junction |
| September 1954 | Cardiff Canton |
| July 1956 | Severn Tunnel Junction |
| September 1959 | Aberdare |
| December 1962 | Southall |
Whilst at Abedare 2873 spent its last four months in store.
When withdrawn from service in 1964 2873 was sent for scrap to Barry from where it was purchased by Dumbleton Hall Preservation Limited to provide a boiler and spare wheels for 2884 class 3803. At that time it was not practical to re-tyre locomotives. Due to experience being gained with new build projects it is now quicker to re-tyre than make the wheels on 2873 fit.
The locomotive was the last to be purchased from Dai Woodham’s scrapyard at Barry.
The locomotive was the last to be purchased from Dai Woodham’s scrapyard at Barry. Initially it went to Tyseley where the boiler was removed. At that time the boiler was intended to be used for a Churchward Star class 4-6-0 but this was never built.
The South Devon Railway then acquired the bottom half, with the aim of eventually using its driving wheelsets (as they had good tyres) as spares for 2884 class 3803. In the event the boiler on 3803 was considered uneconomic to repair and the boiler from 2873 was fitted to 3803 which was returned to steam in 2006.
2873 has been at been at Buckfastleigh since the 1980s in a partially dismantled state and no firm plans exist as to its future.
In February the remains of the locomotive along with 3803 were sold by the South Devon Railway to the Dartmouth Steam Railway.
| Home Base | Current Status | Owner |
| Dartmouth Steam Railway | Has donated parts to other locomotives | Dartmouth Steam Railway |
Preserved British Steam Locomotives 