7234 was one of the second batch of rebuilds known as the " 7220 " class , entering service in 1935/36 , and followed the initial series , the " 7200 " rebuilds from 1934 , to be followed by the 1939 rebuilds , the " 7240 " series from 1939 .
All had been rebuilt by Collett from the original " 5205 " class 2-8-0 ' s introduced in 1923 but due to diminishing demand for coal in the Depression years of the 1930's and the more widespread use of Diesel fuel for merchant shipping , these " 5205 " class engines were redundant practically from new , going into store before being rebuilt as mentioned above , the rebuilds having extended rear frames and enlarged coal bunkers .
The first to be withdrawn was 7241 in 1962 , the last four surviving until 1965.