GWR 2800 Class No. 2807

The Great Western Railway (GWR) 2800 Class is a class of steam locomotives designed by George Jackson Churchward for heavy freight work. They were the first 2-8-0 'Consolidation' class of locomotives used in Great Britain. Eighty-four of them were built in total and only six have survived into preservation. No. 2807 is one of these locomotives.
==Operational history==
No. 2807 was built in October 1905 at the GWR's Swindon Works and was put to work hauling coal trains throughout South Wales.
During the First World War, No. 2807 performed on the famous "Jellicoe Specials". A round the clock service that saw the 2800 class engines carrying Welsh steam coal destined for the Grand Fleet at Scappa Flow. 
After the First World War, No. 2807 was moved to Bristol and later to Tyseley in 1924. During the BR era it was allocated to multiple locations before being eventually withdrawn from service in 1963. 
No. 2807 was moved to the Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry in November 1963 and remained there for 17 years.
==Preservation==
In 1981, the locomotive was rescued from the scrapyard by its current owners, the Cotswold Steam Preservation Limited (C.S.P.), and was moved to Toddington railway station to become the first steam locomotive on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. After many years, it was finally restored to steam in 2010.
On January 1, 2020, No. 2807 ran for its final day of service due to the expiration of its boiler certificate. It is currently undergoing an overhaul and is expected to return to steam for Easter 2023.
==Trivia==
*The oldest survivor of its class in preservation.
*The oldest survivor of George Jackson Churchward's standard locomotives.
*The oldest locomotive built by the GWR which is now privately owned.
*The oldest locomotive saved from the Woodham Brothers scrapyard.
==Gallery==
File:2807 as Henry.jpg
File:GWR2807steamer.jpg
File:GWR 2-8-0 28xx Class No 2807 and train Toddington.jpg
Category:Built in 1905
Category:2-8-0 steam locomotives
Category:2-8-0 locomotives
Category:Tender locomotives
Category:Great Western Railway locomotives
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:Standard gauge steam locomotives of Great Britain
Category:Standard gauge locomotives
Category:Locomotives
Category:Swindon Works locomotives
Category:British locomotives
Category:Restored locomotives
Category:Preserved locomotives
Category:Freight locomotives
Category:Wartime locomotives
Category:Locomotives saved from the Woodham Brothers scrapyard
Category:Preserved steam locomotives
Category:Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway
Category:GWR 2800 Class