3803
GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY 2884 CLASS 2-8-0 No.3803
No.3803, a member of the 2884 class, was completed at the Great Western Railway's Swindon factory in January, 1939 at a cost of £4285, including £1147 for the boiler. The GWR was hoping for a large share in a probable Government grant for building new engines for the war effort at the outbreak of the 2nd World War. In the event it was the Stanier 8F that was chosen for the war effort. Similarly the 2800 class locomotives lost out to the GCR O4 class in the 1st World War when the latter class was chosen for that war effort.
No.3803 wears the GWR unlined green livery. She has spent the 2011 and 2012 seasons on the Battlefield Line at Shackerstone. No.3803 will be paying her first visit to the GCR at a time when, unfortunately, the GCR’s two resident 2-8-0s Nos 48305 and 63601, are not operational. So it will be nice to see a 2-8-0 on the Windcutters again.
No.3803 arrived at Quorn & Woodhouse on 23rd January, 2013. It entered traffic on the GCR on 25th January, 2013 at the Winter Gala.
After successful performances at the Winter Gala and other GCR services No.3803 left the GCR on 20th March, 2013.
