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BODMIN & WENFORD RAILWAY  
GWR 2-8-0T  No. 4247

The principle role of the class was working the 1000+ ton coal trains up through the Welsh valleys.  A job which needed much tractive effort, due to train weights and gradients, and good steaming capabilities.  The large boiler was enabled into the design due to the narrow side tanks; these engines would pass numerous water stops along their routes so it was never a worry, because of the class’s heavy water consumption and limited tank capacity they were nicknamed “Water Carts”.  4247 spent some of her life in “the Valleys” but also spent a number of years doing a similar job in Cornwall, on the china clay runs, a task with similar needs as the coal work, the infamous Pinnock Tunnel was one such feat conquered by these engines.

Left - The fireman's side of the cab with the boiler pressure gauge, steam heat gauge, gauge frame, regulator and brake valve.

Right - The driver's side showing regulator and to the right the brake vacuum gauge above the brake valve and the lubricator below.

In January/February 1960 she had her last “Heavy General” overhaul at 699,418 miles, at which time she was fitted with her current boiler, No C6053.  Like a lot of other engines she was withdrawn, April 1964, aged 48 years, total mileage of 759,392 miles, and was sent to Barry for scrapping, August 1964.

In November 1984 the 4247 Preservation Society (now 4247 Limited) was founded.  Six months later, on 24 April 1985, 21 years exactly to her withdrawal, she left Dai Woodham’s Yard, Barry; the Society paid £8,500 for her, the 161^st engine to leave.  No 4247 arrived at Wallingford the next day to begin her sixteen year restoration.  After Wallingford, she was moved to Chinnor, then final completion at Swindon Works.  Testing was done at the Didcot Railway Centre.  Her inaugural preservation run took place on 9^th September 2001 on the West Somerset Railway.  Since then she has performed all her steaming duties at the Great Central Railway and the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire. In September 2004, 4247 made her first appearance back in Cornwall at our Steam Gala.  She performed alongside our own fleet and also City of Truro. From January 2005, for 7 months, she underwent extensive repairs at the Flour Mill Workshops in readiness to take her place on the Bodmin and Wenford Railway until 2022.  Here, she now takes a place in the main fleet of the line.  With 3 GWR engines under our belt, one of which can handle anything we ask of her, 4247 has helped to fill a gap in our operating capabilities.

The total cost of restoring 4247 amounted to a staggering £300,000 – the owners proudly achieved this without owing anybody any money.  They were able to obtain three Lottery grants totalling £110,000 and then raise the rest by issuing shares of £180, along with years and years of fundraising events.  All this was done with not one of them having a railway background!

Due to point work and platform alignment at Bodmin Parkway, however, we can not use her on 5 coaches on this line at present.  We hope to alleviate this  in the near future by widening the platform.

4247 Engine Repair History in Cornwall

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