Time Capsules - Old Photographs from the past

9001 approaching Buttington (Powys) 1950s

9001 was a member of the 29 strong GWR 3200 Class of 4-4-0 passenger locomotives. They were nicknamed “Dukedogs”, since they were composed of former Duke Class boilers on Bulldog Class frames.

No. 9001 was rebuilt at the GWR Swindon Works from 3263 and 3412 to become 3201 on 30 April 1936 with the name “Earl of Dunraven”. However the names of the “Dukedogs” were removed in 1937 and re-applied to Castle Class locomotives. A further identity change occurred in 1946 when new 2251 Class engines took the 32XX numbers, and the “Dukedogs” were renumbered from 9000 onwards.

9001 seems to have spent most of its life based as Oswestry shed (89A) until withdrawal on 30 April 1955. There are no details of its eventual scrapping.

No.9017 “Earl of Berkeley” is the only survivor, in preservation at the Bluebell Railway where it is currently running after an overhaul in 2003.

Buttington railway station near Welshpool was part of the Cambrian Coast Line running from Shrewsbury, Shropshire in England into Wales. Although surviving “the Beeching Axe”, it was closed on 18 January 1965 as part of a major rail rationalisation in the area.

Text courtesy of Peter Langsdale

Photo © The Step Back Through Time Collection