Gwen

Gwen is a G class Single that was owned by the Wellsworth & Suddery Railway (W&S) from 1874 to the formation of the North Western Railway (NWR) in 1915. She is the main narrator of 'Rails Through Suddery' and is now preserved by the Sudrian Preservation Society.

Biography
Gwen was built at Brighton Works as part of batch of three G class 2-2-2s for the W&S in October 1874 as its main express locomotives until the arrival of the D2s of 0-4-2s.

Personality
Gwen is a wise engine.

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

Basis
Gwen is based off the LBSCR G class 2-2-2. They were the last 2-2-2s developed for a major railway company for express trains and were designed by William Stroudley in 1874. The prototype, 151 'Grosvenor', entered service in December 1874 and a second, No. 325 'Abergavenny', entering service in January 1877. Production G class locomotives were built between 1880 and 1882 but were made redundant on the Porthsmouth line following the introduction of the B2 class 4-4-0s by Robert J. Billinton in 1895 and several were reallocated to the Tunbridge Wells. Withdrawals happened between 1905 and 1911 with none being preserved, other than a model for No. 331 'Fairlight' that is on display in a museum Sheffield Park on the Bluebell Railway.

Trivia
Despite her actual build date being unknown, Gwen's age can be calculated as follows:


 * In Rivalry (set in 1894), Gwen was 19-20 years old while she was 108 or 109 years old while telling the story in 1982.
 * In German Spy (set in August 1915), Gwen was 40 years old while she 109 or 110 years old while telling the story in 1984.
 * In Fast Goods (set in November 1902), Gwen was 28 years old while she was 110 or 111 years old while telling the story in 1985.
 * In Coal Terrier while Worthington was telling his story in December 1986, Gwen was 112 years old.
 * By the time she was withdrawn in 1942, Gwen was either 67 or 68 years old.

Gwen is considered officially as the last ex-W&S tender locomotive in service but isn't the last W&S locomotive in service. This was shattered by Worthington after his withdrawal by the National Coal Board (NCB), which he was 111 years old, and Windcombe now being owned by the Vicarstown Recycling Co. since 1984.


 * This claim can be seen as false as Burton was returned to service in 1942 and was destroyed a year later, making him the last W&S tender locomotive taken out of service.

Gwen and her brothers and sisters all have name beginning with the letter 'G', which comes from her class.

Gwen and her brothers and sister are all paradoxes since they were built in September-October 1874 but the G class wasn't introduced until December 1874.

Due to no official sounds recorded of the class ever existing, Gwen's puffing comes from stock standard Thomas sound effects with a A1X "Terrier" whistle.

In Coal Terrier, it's revealed that Gwen's NWR Number was the same as her W&S number, '18'. Currently, the NWR No. 18 is now carried by ex-LNER B17/6 'Leicester City'.