GWR 3232 Class

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 type Steam Designer William Dean Builder GWR Swindon Works Order number Lots 90, 93 Serial number 1341–1350, 1381–1390 Build date 1892–93 Total produced 20
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-4-0 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Driver dia. 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) Fuel type Coal Cylinders Two, inside Cylinder size 17+1⁄2 in × 24 in (444 mm × 610 mm)
Career Operators Great Western Railway Numbers 3232–3251 Withdrawn by 1930 Disposition All scrapped

Design

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

Year	Quantity	Lot No.	Works No.	Locomotive Numbers	Notes
1892	10	90	1341–1350	3232–3241
1893	10	93	1381–1390	3242–3251

Use

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 A few went later to Machynlleth and Oswestry, where the last survivor was withdrawn in 1930.

References

• 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.