ATHELHAMPTON HALL: AN ORIGINAL LOCOMOTIVE NAMEPLATE FROM THE GWR

In 1928 the Great Western Railway introduced a new class of express passenger locomotives. Named after English and Welsh country houses with Hall in their title, they were known as the Hall Class. They were very successful and 259 were built up to 1943. From 1943 the locomotive was redesigned and brought up to modern standards, while retaining its essential characteristics, and a new class was introduced, known as Modified Halls, of which 71 were built between 1944 and 1950. Athelhampton Hall, number 6971, was built at Swindon and went into service in October 1947. It was originally based in Bristol but spent much of its working life at Tyseley, Birmingham. Withdrawn in October 1964, it was broken up shortly afterwards. When Hall Class locomotives were withdrawn it was quite common for the owners of country houses which had Hall Class locomotives named after them to buy the nameplates.