| GWR 7200 Class | |
|---|---|
| 7248 at Swansea East Dock Locomotive Depot in 1962 | |
| Power type | Steam |
| Designer | Collett (rebuild) |
| Builder | GWR Swindon Works |
| Rebuild date | 1934 |
| Number rebuilt | 54 |
| Configuration | 2-8-2T |
| UIC classification | 1'D1' ht |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Driver diameter | 4 ft 7 1⁄2 in (1.41 m) |
| Locomotive weight | 92 tons 12 cwt (207,400 lb or 94.1 t) |
| Fuel type | Coal |
| Boiler pressure | 200 lbf/in² (1.38 MPa) |
| Cylinders | Two, outside |
| Cylinder size | 19 × 30 in (483 × 762 mm) |
| Valve gear | Stephenson |
| Valve type | Piston valves |
| Tractive effort | 33,170 lbf (147.5 kN) |
| Career | GWR » BR |
| Class | 7200 |
| Power class | GWR: E BR: 8F |
| Axle load class | Red |
| Withdrawn | 1963–1965 |
| Disposition | Three extant, remainder scrapped |
The Great Western Railway (GWR) 7200 Class is a class of 2-8-2T steam locomotive. They were the largest tank engines to run in Great Britain.
Originally the 4200 class and 5205 class 2-8-0T were introduced for short-haul Welsh coal traffic, but the Stock Market Crash of 1929 saw coal traffic fall and some of the specialist tanks were rebuilt with trailing wheels to make them 2-8-2T and give them more coal capacity so they could be used for other tasks.
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The first member of the class to be withdrawn was number 7241 in November 1962, whilst the last four engines in traffic served until June 1965. As the class were allocated to operations associated with the South Wales coalfield, a majority were sent to Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales. No. 7226 was scrapped there in 1965.
Three locomotives survive, all recovered from Woodham Brothers, though none have been restored:
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