GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Bordesley Station: gwrbg2281a

Great Western Railway 30xx (ROD) class 2-8-0 No 3012 with a class F unfitted through freight from Moor Street Goods Yard is seen crossing to the Up Main Line on the crossover adjacent to Bordesley North Signal Box. Originally built for a double Broad Gauge track, Bordesley viaduct had been widened in 1913 and carried five tracks between Bordesley and Moor Street. From right to left these were the up and down Main lines, up and down Relief lines and down Goods line.

These 30xx class locomotives became known as the ROD’s because they were built for the Railway Operating Division (R.O.D.) of the Royal Engineers for service in France in the later stages of the First World War. They were based on the Great Central Railway's 2-8-0 8K class locomotives designed by JG Robinson. The UK Government ordered 518 locomotives of this type to be built by five locomotive manufacturers; North British Locomotive (NBL) Co Ltd (369), Robert Stephenson & Co Ltd (82), Nasmyth, Wilson & Co Ltd (32), Kitson & Co Ltd (32) and Great Central Railway (4). They were constructed between 1917 and 1919, but the war ended in November 1918 and by the end of March 1919 only 305 had cross the channel for service on the continent. In 1919, the Government declared them surplus and they were placed up for sale.

Locomotive No 3012 was built in 1919 at the Queen’s Park Works of the North British Locomotive Company (with works No 22119) and given the number No 2024 by the Railway Operating Division. The Great Western Railway purchased No 3012 in June 1919 as one of twenty surplus ROD engines in Lot 215 and these became the nucleus of the 30xx class. The boiler operated at 185 lb and the locomotives had a tractive effort at 85% of 32,200 lb, which meant they were classified in power group D. The maximum axle weight of 17 tons, 7 cwt restricted the locomotives to all main lines and some branch lines (route colour – Blue). With no vacuum brake the 30xx class locomotives were unable to connect with fully fitted or partial fitted vacuum braked rolling stock, but they found a role hauling heavy unfitted goods trains. The tenders purchased at the same time as the locomotive were allocated to GWR tender lot A115. They could hold 4,000 gallons of water and had a 6 ton coal capacity.

Locomotive No 3012 was known to have been allocated to Banbury shed (BAN) in January 1921. Although some Swindonisation had taken place directly after purchase, in August 1929 this locomotive was fitted with a new ‘MB’ boiler with a copper firebox, Swindon superheater, top feed and Great Western Railway pattern safety valve, but retained its steam brake. No 3012 was known to have been allocated to Severn Tunnel Junction shed (STJ) in January 1934 and prior to nationalisation in December 1947, was allocated to Pontypool Road shed (PPRD). It was still allocated there in April 1952. This locomotive was withdrawn from Tyseley shed (2A) in May 1956 and scrapped in the same year at Swindon Works.

Robert Ferris

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