The Great Western Railway (GWR) experimented with oil burning steam locomotives at two points in its history.
Initially built as an oil-burning locomotive, it was rebuilt in 1905 as a coal burner, with the cab backplate replaced by a bunker.
He modified a number of locomotives of different classes, and the results were successful enough that it was planned to turn Cornwall into an oil fired area.
The Government decided that such a scheme should be extended across the country, and asked Hawksworth to provide details of the technology to other railway companies.
Several million pounds were spent on the scheme before it foundered on the uneconomic cost of the imported fuel, which had to be purchased using scarce foreign exchange.
The success of the initial conversion saw the scheme extended to further Castle and Hall class locomotives, for work in Cornwall.
Depots were re-equipped for refuelling the engines at Bristol Bath Road, Bristol St Philip's Marsh, Cardiff Canton, Didcot, Gloucester, Llanelly, Newport Ebbw Junction, Newton Abbot, Old Oak Common, Plymouth Laira, Reading, Severn Tunnel Junction, Swindon, and Westbury.
that 4965 Rood Ashton Hall during its next overhaul alongside undergoing a retube and a reduction in its width for gauging reasons, consideration was being made to have 4965 converted to oil burning.