The 3232 Class, 20 2-4-0 locomotives designed by William Dean and built at Swindon Works for the Great Western Railway in 1892–93, were the GWR's last completely new 2-4-0 design. Their number series was 3232–3251.

GWR 3232 Class
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerWilliam Dean
BuilderGWR Swindon Works
Order numberLots 90, 93
Serial number1341–1350, 1381–1390
Build date1892–93
Total produced20
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte2-4-0
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Fuel typeCoal
CylindersTwo, inside
Cylinder size17+12 in × 24 in (444 mm × 610 mm)
Career
OperatorsGreat Western Railway
Numbers3232–3251
Withdrawnby 1930
DispositionAll scrapped

Design

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They resembled Dean's own 2201 Class and thus also Armstrong's 806 Class, though they had larger cylinders and a shorter wheelbase. All received Belpaire boilers in the course of the normal varied reboilerings.

Table of orders and numbers[1]
Year Quantity Lot No. Works No. Locomotive Numbers Notes
1892 10 90 1341–1350 3232–3241
1893 10 93 1381–1390 3242–3251

At the start of their careers these engines replaced their sister 2201s on Swindon-Weymouth trains, on South Wales expresses, and on fast North-to-West trains. Others were in the London and Reading areas, where others also moved when 4-4-0s displaced them from express working. A few went later to Machynlleth and Oswestry, where the last survivor was withdrawn in 1930.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Allcock et al. (1968), pp. 27–28.
  2. ^ Tabor (1956), pp. D40–D42.
  • Allcock, N. J.; Davies, F. K.; le Fleming, H. M.; Maskelyne, J. N.; Reed, P. J. T.; Tabor, F. J. (1968) [1951]. White, D. E. (ed.). The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, part one: Preliminary Survey. Kenilworth: RCTS.
  • Tabor, F.J. (February 1956). White, D.E. (ed.). The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, part four: Six-wheeled Tender Engines. Kenilworth: RCTS.