GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Hockley Station: gwrhd701

Ex Great Western Railway 2-8-0 28xx heavy freight class No 2823 stands on one of Hockley goods yard's sidings having brought in another class D partially fitted freight train for the depot. The top shed can be seen in the distance above the train. No 2823 was built at Swindon works in January 1907, one of the ten locomotives ordered under Lot 160. These locomotives were designed for hauling the heavy coal traffic from South Wales to London and the Midlands and in later years were responsible for the nightly express freight trains. This class were the first consolidation type locomotives to be built in the UK and they proved to be exceptionally good locomotives, noted for their free running and sure footedness, which made them popular with their enginemen. They had a tractive effort of 33,495 lb (power class E) and with a maximum axle weight of 16 tons 7 cwt (Route Colour Blue) were allowed to operate over all the company's important and secondary lines.

When built No 2823 and the three following locomotives were given a long cone boiler and medium length smokebox (type D4). No 2823 was initially allocated to Aberdare Shed (ABDR) in South Wales for coal traffic. In June 1911 No 2823 received a superheated half coned boiler and short smokebox (type D2), but from July 1916 the locomotive carried the superheated, long cone boiler (type D4). In January 1921 No 2823 was still allocated to Aberdare shed, but in January 1934 was allocated to Severn Tunnel Junction (STJ). Between June 1930 and October 1931 the entire class was fitted with Automatic Train Control (ATC). In January 1938 No 2823 was found allocated to Aberdare shed (ABDR) again. Outside steam pipes and new curved drop front ends were fitted in November 1946. Prior to nationalisation in December 1947 No 2823 was still in South Wales at Aberdare shed, but in August 1950 No 2823 was allocated to Horton Road Shed in Gloucester (85B). Following a long working life No 2823 was finally withdrawn from Stourbridge Junction Shed (84F) in April 1959 to be scrapped by R Hayes of Bridgend in the following August.

Robert Ferris

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