Hello and welcome back to another instalment of This is Your Life. This week, a Great Western goods engine dating from 1946. That may not sound very interesting I know but, believe me, this engine is extremely valuable when you realise the part she played in the early years of railway preservation in this country. She is currently awaiting an overhaul so I feel that now is the time for her story to be told to prevent her from falling into obscurity. The locomotive in question: GWR Collett Goods No. 3205.
This is the last film I’ve made before the exam season begins. GCSEs are key in every Year 11’s life and revising for those is more important than investigating the stories of various steam engines. There is one film however that I am going to publish on the 7th of June as a tribute to Ivo Peters. This is Your Life will return in early July, I promise.
*Some historical revision - Amended on the 30th of July 2022.
- When I was talking about the origins of the South Devon Railway, I was talking (as James May would say) bollocks. Well, not entirely. I said that the original line ran from Buckfastleigh to Totness which is, in fact, incorrect. The SDR was built in 1872 and ran from Buckfastleigh to Totness, true. Control was handed over to the GWR in 1876 and sometime around then the line was extended from Buckfastleigh up to the town of Ashburton. After the war, passenger and goods traffic declined steadily with the line closing to the former in 1958 and to the latter in 1962. Although Dr Beeching reopened the line under the cloud of ‘The Branch Line Murderer’ he can be excused guilt for the SDR as it was closed a year before he was brought on board to modernise the railways by the Transport Minister, Ernest Marples. The first train was hauled by ‘The Flockton Flyer’ 6412 and hopes were high of extending up to Ashburton. Unfortunately, 1971, the A38 bypass was built across the track so never will a 1400 and auto coaches reverse graciously into the delightful Brunel station again.
*Some more historical revision - amended on Mon 10 October 2022.
When I was talking about the possibility that 3205 worked across the SVR in steam days, that is confirmed fact. She worked over the route during the course of the 1950s and pulled mainly pick-up goods as well as a passenger service on Sundays. She was shedded at Worcester from May to August 1955.
Update on 3205’s current state - She is still awaiting overhaul at Buckfastleigh having been uncoupled from her tender. She is now in a somewhat neglected state but is often pulled out of the engine shed for visitors to see her. Don’t worry, however, funds are being raised!
Thank you for reading.
As always, thanks very much for watching viewers.
Stay Safe & Stay Tuned!
- Alex.
14 май 2022
