GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Warwick Station: gwrw2177

Ex-Great Western Railway 30xx Class 2-8-0 No 3028 stands on the up refuge loop during the Winter of 1955. These 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. Built as ROD No 1725 in 1918 by the Nasmyth, Wilson & Co Ltd (with works No 1281), No 3028 was surplus to ROD requirements and was initially stored before being purchased by the Great Western Railway in June 1925 as one of a batch of eighty engines bought from the ROD at the discounted price of £1,500 per engine.

This locomotive was originally allocated the number No 3024, but after a few months operation was withdrawn to Swindon for assessment and an overhaul which included being fitted with a new ‘MB’ boiler with a copper firebox, Swindon superheater, top feed and Great Western Railway pattern safety valve, but like the other ROD engines retained its steam brake. When this overhaul was completed in September 1926 this engine was renumbered No 3028 and placed into service. No 3028 was known to have been allocated to Neath shed (NEA) in January 1934 and prior to nationalisation, in December 1947, was allocated to Croes Newydd shed (CNYD). This locomotive was allocated to Stourbridge Junction shed (84F) in April 1952. No 3028 was withdrawn from Oxley shed in Wolverhampton (84B) in August 1956 and scrapped in the same year at Swindon Works.

Robert Ferris

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