3650 was sold by British Rail to Stephenson Clarke P.D. Fuels Ltd on 9th October 1963, and following removal of the vacuum brake pipes and steam heat, moved to Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen colliery, South Wales. It continued working until fire box bulges, a thin front tube plate and worn tyres amongst other things caused it to be stopped. From what we have found, only minor maintenance could have been carried out.

When restoration started at Didcot we found an area on the drivers side of the fire box which was two feet deep with solid concrete like scale that caused localised heating, broken stays, and hence the fire box bulges (lack of washing out). Many of the brake and suspension bushes had worn through into the parent metal and the tyres were so badly worn that there were flanges forming on the outside! Most of the plate work in the cab floor and bunker area and the heavier angle iron of the drag box under the bunker had a very bad case of metal moth (rust).

3650 again at Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, 7th April 1969 (Rhys Ab. Elis). By this time 3650 was probably stopped due to the problems mentioned above, but with the exception of the number plates, vacuum pipe work and steam heat, was still a complete engine.

3650 was bought by a Great Western Society member on 31st October 1969 and moved to Bulmers at Hereford, and then on to Didcot in 1970. Didcot's other Pannier Tank, 3738 was aquired from Barry scrap yard in 1974 and although in better physical condition, being a Barry engine, lacked all of its non ferrous pipe work and fittings.

It was therefore decided to use 3650 as a source of spares, 3738 being an easier and less clapped out restoration project. Within 2 years, 3738 was again working at Didcot thanks to 3650 which was then stored to await its fate.

On to 1980's