Power Classification	8F
Introduced	1938 – 1942
Designer	Collett
Company	GWR
Weight – Loco	76t 5cwt
Tender	40t 0cwt
Driving Wheels	4ft 7.5ins
Boiler Pressure	225psi
Cylinders	Outside – 18.5in x 30in
Tractive Effort	35,380lbf
Valve Gear	Stephenson (piston valve)

This was the Collett version of the 2800 class. Built 20 years after the last 2800 class locomotive was built. They were slightly heavier with large side-windowed cabs and outside steam pipes. There was a casing on the left hand side of the locomotive on the running plate (looking like a continuous splasher over the wheels) which was to store the fire-irons.

83 locomotives of the 2884 class were built between 1938 and 1941. Those built during the war did not have the side window to the cab, and the side window on the others was plated over. This was to reduce glare as a precaution against air attack. The windows were reinstated after the war.

Twenty of the 2800 and 2884 class locomotives were rebuilt to oil burning during the coal crisis of 1947. They were renumbered in the 4800 series (causing the 4800 class of 0-4-2Ts to be renumbered in the 1400 series). By 1950 they were all converted back to coal burning with their original numbers.

They were so popular with the ex-Great Western crews that the Western Region operating authorities wanted more of the class built after nationalisation in 1948; however, this request was turned down in favour of BR Standard Class 9Fs.

Many of the standard 9F locomotives built in the later part of the 1950s were used to replace 2800 and 2884 class locomotives on the Western region of BR.

	2800 class
	2884 class
	Standard 9F 92000 class

 

The standard 2-10-0s were withdrawn from duty on the Western Region in 1965 (including the last steam locomotive built 92220 Evening Star) but a number were reallocated to depots on the Southern, London Midland and Eastern Regions.

	Built		Withdrawn	No in Service
1938	2884-99/3800-02	19		19
1939	3803 – 13	11		30
1940	3814 – 3831	18		48
1941	3832 – 3834	3		51
1942	3835 – 3866	32		83
1943 – 61				83
1962			1	82
1963			15	67
1964			33	34
1965			34	0

The 2884 class remained in service later that the earlier 2800 class and only reduced significantly in numbers operating at the same time as the Standard 92000 class reduced.

	2800 Class	2884 Class	92000 Class	Total
1954 -57	84	83	8	175
1958	78	83	38	199
1959	49	83	54	186
1960	35	83	55	173
1961	34	83	51	168
1962	28	82	48	158
1963	10	67	30	107
1964	1	34	25	60
1965	0	0	0	0

The 92000 numbers reflect the class numbers based at Western Region depots at the end of each year.

Preservation

• 2885
• 3802
• 3803
• 3814
• 3822
• 3845
• 3850
• 3855
• 3862

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