925 – Cheltenham

SOUTHERN RAILWAY SCHOOLS CLASS 4-4-0 No.925 "Cheltenham"

At the time of building the Southern Railway 3 cylinder Schools Class locomotives were the most powerful 4-4-0 locomotives in Britain. They were named after famous public schools in the south of England, the area which the railway served.

No.925 was built in 1934 at the Eastleigh Works of the Southern Railway and after a life hauling passenger and freight trains, No.925 was withdrawn in 1962 and entered Eastleigh Works for a light overhaul before becoming part of the National Collection.  The lcocmotive appeared at Rainhill 150 in 1980, but had not steamed since until its present restoration.

No.925 moved to the National Railway Museum at York in 2010 for restoration to working order.  This was completed at the Mid Hants Railway in 2012.  Before its visit to the GCR it will have been run in at that railway.

To have the locomotive at the GCR so soon after its return to steam is indeed a privilege.