Collett 2884 class No 3850 at Minehead in July this year

Upon Nationalisation, the ‘2884’ and 28xx classes emerged quite well from the locomotive exchange trials against other locos such as the LMS 8F. They survived right up until the end of steam on the Western region, and as such a number were preserved.

3850 was sent to Barry upon withdrawal like many Western locomotives, and as such was saved in the 1980’s, being restored by the then 3850 locomotive society (who merged with the Dinmore Manor society to form the current group) and Tyesley works. It was restored to steam in 2006 and works regularly at the West Somerset Railway.