old - South Western Railway Class B2 0-6-0

The SWR Winter Class B2 0-6-0 was a class of Twenty Five inside-cylinder 0-6-0s designed for express goods work. They were Charles Winter's first original class of 0-6-0. Winter had previously designed a modified version of Robert Perkins' L Class of 1874. In SWR days they were numbered 85 - 110.   At the turn of the century, the SWR started to introduce fast goods trains to the railway. Unfortunately, the L Class was of little use on these services, as they lacked the speed and were nearly between twenty and thirty years old by this point. Furthermore, outdated express passenger locomotives, such as the Sherman Atlantics, and secondary passenger locomotives, such as the N4 Class of 1895, were also being used on these services, but these were not designed with such traffic in mind.   War Service: In 1915, the Railway Operating Division requisitioned 5 of the B2 class for service in mainland Europe. They were previously numbered 90 - 95, but were renumbered to ROD No. 1214 - 1219. One (No. 1216) was destroyed by a German anti - tank gun (Mauser Tankgewehr M1918). Nos. 1218 & 1219 were sold to the Polish State Railways (Polskie Koleje Państwowe) in return for 3 coaches.   In 1942, M&GWR No. 1089 was spotted pulling Etorean Expeditionary Force (EEF) ambulance train after the Battle of Aachen.   Post WW2 Service: In 1949, Nos. 1214 & 1217 were sent to help with the reconstruction of Europe. They returned in 1955 (Along with 1219). In 1955, they were classified as ENR Class J17.   Preservation: Two locomotives have been preserved. No. 1089 (ENR No. 11089) is at the Shale Valley Railway, She is owned by Daniel O'Connor. ROD No. 1219 is at Trethorpe MPD and is being serviced ready for a mainline tour, She is currently owned by the Etorean War Veterans Trust.