Claim: Although GWR was at the forefront of building British locomotives in the 1900s until the 1930s, this has not kept pace with the development in other countries; currently out of the six engines to be preserved, five engines have run in preservation except 6984 Owsden Hall.
Evidence: Although the GWR had been at the forefront of British locomotive development between 1900 and 1930, the 1930s saw a degree of complacency at Swindon reflected in the fact that many designs and production methods had not kept pace with developments elsewhere. Out of the six engines to be preserved, five engines have run in preservation. The only engine yet to run is 6984 Owsden Hall.