GWR 7200 Class

Infobox Locomotive
powertype=Steam
name = GWR 7200 Class


caption =
designer = Collett (rebuild)
builder = GWR
builddate = 1934
totalproduction =
whytetype = 2-8-2T
gauge = 4' 8½"
leadingsize =
driversize = 4' 7½"
length =
weight = 92 tons 2 cwt
fueltype = coal
fuelc

waterc

cylindercount = two outside
cylindersize = 19" x 30"
firearea =
boilerpressure = 200 psi
tractiveeffort = 33,170 lbf
railroadclass= 8F| The Great Western Railway (GWR) 7200 Class is a class of 2-8-2T steam locomotive. They were the largest tank engines to run in Great Britain.

Originally the 4200 Class and 5205 2-8-0T were introduced for short-haul Welsh coal traffic, but the Stock Market Crash of 1929 saw coal traffic fall and some of the specialist tanks were rebuilt with trailing wheels to make them 2-8-2T and give them more coal capacity so they could be used for other tasks.

Withdrawal

The first member of the class to be withdrawn was number 7241 in November 1962 whilst the last four engines in traffic served until June 1965.

Preservation

Three have been preserved, these being nos 7200, 7202 and 7229. All three of the engines were rescued from Barry Scrapyard with 7200 leaving in Sept 1981, 7202 leaving in Apr 1974 and 7229 leaving the yard in Oct 1984. there was one other 7200 in Barry Scrapyard, No. 7226, but it was scrapped in 1965
*No. 7200 Is under restoration at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre
*No. 7202 Is under restoration at Didcot Railway Centre
*No. 7229 is awaiting restoration on the East Lancashire Railway

External links

* http://www.greatwestern.org.uk/m_in_282.htm
* http://www.brc-stockbook.co.uk/7200.HTM
* http://www.seandunne.btinternet.co.uk/
* http://www.baldric.telinco.co.uk/index.htm
* [http://d832.fotopic.net/p31529797.html 7229]
* [http://www.greatwestern.org.uk/barrygwr.htm List of GWR engines rescued from Barry Scarpyard]