GWR ‘2301’ 0-6-0

Before the war: William Dean’s ‘2301’ 0-6-0s were quite radical for the GWR as they had inside frames. Swindon built 260 but 20 had been converted to 2-6-2Ts in 1907-1910, while one was withdrawn in 1907.

Call-up: The Railway Operating Division called up 62 ‘Dean Goods’ in April-May 1917: Nos. 2303/06/08/09/11/ 13/16-18/22/27/29/30/32/34/36/ 38/ 39/48/49/55/57/83/87, 2403/15/20/ 30/46/52-54/57/ 58/61/63/69/70/ 73/76/80/84/88/89, 2514/17-20/22/28/31/33 /35/42/49/ 57/63/66/ 77/78/80. Theatre of operations: Deployed throughout the British Army’s presence on the Western Front. In March/April 1918, 16 were transferred to Salonika. Demobilisation: Those used on the Western Front returned to the GWR in April-August 1919; nine returned from Salonika in 1921. Seven were transferred to Turkish State Railways and

No. 33041 (No. 2308) survived into the mid1950s. Survivors: BR withdrew No. 2538 in 1957 but WD No. 195 (later No. 70195) was kept at Longmoor until 1959. Classmate No. 2516 is displayed at STEAM, Swindon.

STEAM – MUSEUM OF THE GWR WD No. 179, formerly No. 2466, has been fitted with pannier tanks and condensing gear to not only further its range but also to reduce smoke emissions that could be spotted by enemy aircraft. It was sent to China in 1946/1947.