Oxford

Oxford was a western tank engine that was owned by the Wellsworth & Suddery Railway (W&S) from 1876 to the formation of the North Western Railway (NWR) in 1915. He is seen as one of the oldest tank engines working for the railway and the only locomotive built to a GWR design.

Bio
Oxford was built by Beyer, Peacock & Co. of Gorton, Manchester, as a licenced copy of the Great Western Railway (GWR) 633 class built at Wolverhampton Works from 1871 to 1872. He soon given a hostile welcome because of his GWR origins despite being a copy of one of their designs. By the 1880s, Oxford had been given the honour of being referred to as a "W&S engine" despite not being built by Brighton Works like the others. He found himself being placed on suburban work, especially Emily's services and made the Terrier fear she was going to be replaced, but it was revealed that Oxford was only covering for her during her inspection periods. As a result, the two gained a really strong bond with each other, one the others joked about it being "love".

Livery
Oxford is painted in the standard Wellsworth & Suddery Railway Maroon livery.

Basis
Oxford is based of the GWR 633 class 0-6-0T. These strange tank engines were built at Wolverhampton Works from November 1871 to April 1872 with 12 built. Unlike many from that time, they were side tanks instead of saddle tanks like the other tanks engines at the time and they were mainly used for suburban trains around London and later Wales. Withdrawals for the class began under C. B. Collett with the introduction of newer Large Prairie tanks for their suburban work in 1928 and 1934 with none being preserved. They became the basis of the 645 class 0-6-0ST/PT of 1873.

Trivia
Oxford is named after the famous university city and capital of Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.

Oxford is the first W&S locomotive not built to a LB&SCR design.

Oxford was really close to Emily until her scrapping in 1894.

Despite his exact build date being unknown other than his build month, Oxford's age can be calculated as follows:


 * In Rivalry (set in 1894), Oxford was 17-18 years old.
 * In German Spy (set in August 1915), Oxford was 39 years old.
 * In Fast Goods (set in November 1902), Oxford was 26 years old.
 * When he was scrapped in 1923, Oxford was either 46 or 47 years old.

Oxford is the only W&S locomotive built to a GWR design until the acquisition of the ex-Sodor & Mainland Railway (S&M) 388 class "Armstrong Goods" 0-6-0 in 1901.

The sound effects used for Oxford are captured from various GWR Pannier tanks.

Originally, Oxford was going to be built by Robert Stephenson & Co. of Newcastle but this was changed to Beyer, Peacock & Co. after a writing error.