Woodham, Barry

Looking at the list of locos actually scrapped there, only 4 are not represented in preservation (a 3150 and 3 x 54xx plus the two lamented now diesels) Quite a lucky chance as not a few unique locos survived.

 

It is an incredible story and has such a great ending. During the late 70's and 80s we were all convinced that most of those left would be cut up. How times change.

 

Compare that with the classes of loco which would not have survived were it not for Dai Woodham's preference to cut up wagons:-

BR 78000 2-6-0
BR 76000 2-6-0
BR 71000 4-6-2 Duke of Gloucester
LMS 7F S&D 2-8-0
LMS Stanier 2-6-0
BR(S) Rebuilt WC/BB
SR S15 Class 4-6-0
SR N Class 2-6-0
SR U Class 2-6-0
SR Q Class 0-6-0
LSWR S15 Class 4-6-0
GWR 42xx 2-8-0T
GWR 72xx 2-8-0T
GWR 51xx 2-6-2-T
GWR 43xx 2-6-0
GWR 49xx (Hall) 4-6-0 (As opposed to "Modified Halls")

Add to this a few sub-classes:-

GWR 4575 2-6-2T (with larger sloping tanks)
GWR 2884 2-8-0 (Collett cab and outside steam pipes)
GWR 93xx 2-6-0 (Collett cab, not sure if there were any other modifications compared with the 43xxs)
Midland 4F 0-6-0 (LMS examples had driver & firemans' controls the other way round, perhaps other differences? )
LMS 2MT 2-6-0 with 16 1/2" diameter cylinders
BR 73000 4-6-0 Caprotti variant
(there may be others, but I can't think of them off the top of my head)

On balance, although the loss of the 31xx, 54xx and the two diesel classes is sad, the preservation scene has done pretty well.

 

7325/9303 I am pretty sure had screw reverse as opposed to pole reverse as 9303 had a weight behind the buffer beam remove when renumbered 7325.

Cheers Dave

 

Maybe the GWS will re-boiler a 41xx one day to create a 3150....