GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Southam Road and Harbury: Photo gwrsrh289

GWR Class 72xx 2-8-2T No 7247 is seen heading south with a F head code on a mixed freight in 1957. The first wagon is a cattle van (telegraphic code MEX) and being a livestock wagon was, whenever possible, marshalled next to the engine to provide the animals with a smoother ride. The class 72xx locomotives were rebuilt from the class 42xx 2-8-0T, which had been designed to haul Welsh coal traffic the short distance from the mines to the docks. However, with the decline of the Welsh coal trade in the 1930s these engines needed to be redeployed, but their restricted bunker capacity was a problem. The solution was to extend the frames at the rear by 4 foot 1 inch, enlarge the bunker capacity to hold 2 tons more fuel and add a trailing radial axle. Built as class 42xx No 4244 by Swindon works in February 1916, the locomotive was converted to a 2-8-2T in September 1938 and consequently the number was changed to No 7247 which it carried until it was finally withdrawn from 86J Aberdare Shed in March 1963 to be scrapped by J Cashmore of Newport.

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