GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

Tyseley Shed: gwrt368

A later view of ex-ROD 2-8-0 No 3037 now seen standing on one of the approach roads to Tyseley's Repair workshops circa 1939. The Great Western Railway 30xx Class was a class of 2-8-0 steam locomotive consisting of the ex-Railway Operating Division locomotives. The GWR borrowed several ROD 2-8-0s during the First World War but these were returned to the government after the end of the war. In 1919, the GWR bought 20 virtually new RODs, and allocated them as No 3000 to No 3019. A further 84 were hired in July 1919, and were allocated No 3020 to 3099 and No 6000 to No 6003, but these were returned in October 1922. In 1925, the GWR bought 80 engines (including some previously hired) and allocated them within the 30xx series as No 3020 to No 3099. In 1926-7 the GWR sorted their RODs into two batches. The original No 3000 No 3019 and No 3020 No 3049 were considered good engines and given proper overhaul and Swindon fittings, including top feed and brass safety valve casing. The remainder were allocated No 3050 to No 3099, given a light overhaul and then ran until they failed, when they were then withdrawn resulting in all of the class being gone by 1930. There was some swapping of numbers, so that engines in better condition were given the lower numbers. The leading dimensions of the GWR 30xx Class were the same as the GCR Class 8K except that the GWR increased the boiler pressure to 185 psi which increased the tractive effort to 32,200 lb.

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