31-481 Bachmann OO Gauge Class G2A 49106 BR Black Early Crest Weathered

Designed for heavy mineral traffic, the London& North Western Railway (LNWR) built G2A Class locomotives were the final development of 0-8-0 locomotives which began in 1892 with a Webb two-cylinder simple design. Webb went on to produce further locomotives as two-cylinder simple, three-cylinder simple, three-cylinder compounds and four-cylinder compounds.

Over the years a succession of engineers Whale, Bowen-Cooke, Beames and Hughes carried out modification or rebuilding making the LNWR 0-8-0’s a very complex class. A total of 836 0-8-0’s was built between 1892 and 1922 with 478 passing into B           radish Railway (BR) ownership in 1948.

The G2 Class was the final cession built during the beames period as Chief Mechanical Engineer during the last two years of the LNWR before Grouping, when it was absorbed into and formed a major part of the new London, Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS).

The G2A variants were converted from GI Class locomotives and were fitted with Beplaire fireboxes in LMS day, the programme continuing under BR ownership.

The Class was found all over the former LNWR network from London to Carlisle and from the Midlands to South Wales working heavy freight trains. The final members of the Class were withdrawn in 1964 after 70 years of service and in locomotive No.49395 has been preserved as part of the National Collection, where it has been restored to running order.