3205

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 3205-on-a-3p20-parcels-charter-on-the-llangollen-railway-march-2015.jpg

3205 was built by the GWR in 1946 and is the sole surviving member of the 120 strong 2251 class of locomotives designed by C B Collett. 3205 was first allocated to Gloucester and spend much of its early life locally, being allocated to Gloucester, Cheltenham and Worcester.

After nationalisation, the 2251 class also found employment on other lighter duties on the Western Region of BR and 3205 eventually moved onto the Somerset & Dorset metals after that line was taken over from the Southern Region.

BR motive power depot allocations since 1948.

Date ArrivedDepot
January 1948Gloucester
July 1948Cheltenham
May 1955Worcester
August 1955Gloucester
September 1955Worcester
July 1960Shrewsbury
April 1961Machynlleth
June 1961Shrewsbury
January 1963Hereford
December 1963Exmouth Junction
May 1965Templecombe

When 3205 was withdrawn from service in 1965, it was bought for preservation by the 2251 Fund and became the second locomotive to arrive at Buckfastleigh for preservation later that year.

In February 1967 3205, with the motion dismantled, was towed to Stourbridge by a diesel locomotive.

After the motion had been re-assembled it hauled a four coach train to Bridgnorth in March 1967. It subsequently hauled the first passenger train when the Severn Valley railway opened in May 1970.

After several years on the SVR 3205 moved to the West Somerset Railway before returning to what was by then become the South Devon Railway in 1998.

3205 was withdrawn for a major overhaul in 2006 and returned to steam at the railway’s Spring Bank Holiday gala in May 2010, painted in British Railways unlined green livery. In 2014, 3205 was repainted in lined BR green.

During 2016 the engine developed a crack in the boiler barrel which was repaired in the summer of that year but during the 2016/17 winter the locomotive will be examined to make sure that the there are no further signs of the problem.

It was withdrawn from service in 2017 when it was identified that it needed a major boiler rebuild and new cylinder block. It is thought that it requires an “almost completely new boiler” at an estimated cost of £300,000 to £400,000.

Home BaseCurrent StatusOwner
South Devon RailwayAwaiting overhaul2251 Fund
3205 at Glastonbury & Street with a train for Highbridge – May 1965
3205 at Bridgnorth on the Severn Valley Railway – 1968
3205 at Tyseley – September 1969
3205 at Bridgnorth on the Severn Valley Railway – May 1972
3205 at Rainhill as part of the Rocket 150 cavalcade – May 1980
3205 at Bridgnorth on the Severn Valley Railway – July 1982
3205 at Arley on the Severn Valley Railway – August 1982
3205 near Eardington Halt on the Severn Valley Railway – August 1982
3205 near Knappers Crossing on the South Devon Railway – November 1999
3205 at Staverton Wood on the South Devon Railway – February 2014
3205 on a 3P20 Parcels charter on the Llangollen Railway – March 2015
3205 on a 3P20 Parcels charter at west of Glyndyfrdwy on the Llangollen Railway – March 2015

3205 on a 3P20 Parcels charter at Carrog on the Llangollen Railway – March 2015

3205 on a 3P20 Parcels charter at Carrog on the Llangollen Railway – March 2015

3205 on a 3P20 Parcels charter at west of Glyndyfrdwy on the Llangollen Railway – March 2015

3205 at Buckfastleigh on the South Devon Railway – September 2016
3205 at Buckfastleigh on the South Devon Railway – September 2022

 Back to 2251  GWR   Collett   0-6-0

Back to GWR

Back to Locomotives