An engine which was destined to have a story to tell in later years , 4144 had been constructed at Swindon in the September of 1946 , being initially allocated from new the following month to Tondu Motive Power Depot in South Wales until February of 1947 when it was reallocated to Severn Tunnel Junction Depot at which it was to spend most of its working life , although it did find its way back to Tondu from Severn Tunnel Junction for short spells in the following years .
Purchased privately in 1974 by a member of the Great Western Society from Woodhams at Barry following its withdrawal from service in March of 1965 , the engine was despatched from Barry to Didcot in company with 7202 , 3738 and 4942 " Maindy Hall " and was later purchased from its original owner by the Society in 1984 .
4144 is still at Didcot today , its future happily secured.