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GWR 4575 Class

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GWR 4575 class
4598 at Swindon Works in 1954
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerCharles Collett
BuilderGWR Swindon Works
Order numberLots 242, 249, 251, 253
Build date1927–1929
Total produced100
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-6-2T
 • UIC1′C1′ h2t
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.3 ft 2 in (0.965 m)
Driver dia.4 ft 7+1⁄2 in (1.410 m)
Trailing dia.3 ft 2 in (0.965 m)
Minimum curve5 chains (330 ft; 100 m) normal,
4.5 chains (300 ft; 91 m) slow
Wheelbase26 ft 10 in (8.18 m)
Length36 ft 4+1⁄2 in (11.09 m) over buffers
Width8 ft 9 in (2.667 m)
Height13 ft 0 in (3.962 m)
Axle load15 long tons 11 cwt (34,800 lb or 15.8 t)
(17.4 short tons) full
Adhesive weight46 long tons 5 cwt (103,600 lb or 47 t)
(51.8 short tons) full
Loco weight61 long tons 0 cwt (136,600 lb or 62 t)
(68.3 short tons) full
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity3 long tons 14 cwt (8,300 lb or 3.8 t)
Water cap.1,300 imp gal (5,900 L; 1,600 US gal)
Firebox:​
 • Grate area16.6 sq ft (1.54 m2)
BoilerGWR Standard No. 5[1]
Boiler pressure200 lbf/in2 (1.38 MPa)
Heating surface:​
 • Firebox94.25 sq ft (8.756 m2)
 • Tubes992.51 sq ft (92.207 m2)
Superheater:
​
 • Type4-element or 6-element
 • Heating area4-element: 52.98 sq ft (4.922 m2),
6-element: 69.84 sq ft (6.488 m2)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size17 in × 24 in (432 mm × 610 mm)
Valve gearStephenson
Valve typePiston valves
Train brakesVacuum
Performance figures
Tractive effort21,250 lbf (94.5 kN)
Career
OperatorsGWR » BR
Class4575
Power classGWR: C,
BR: 4MT
Number in class100
Numbers4575–4599, 5500–5574
NicknamesSmall Prairie
Axle load classGWR: Yellow
Withdrawn1956–1964
Preserved4588, 5521, 5526, 5532, 5538, 5539, 5541, 5542, 5552, 5553, 5572
Disposition11 preserved, remainder scrapped

The Great Western Railway (GWR) 4575 Class is a class of 2-6-2T British steam locomotives.

History

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They were designed as small mixed traffic branch locomotives, mainly used on branch lines. They were a development of Churchward's 4500 Class with larger side tanks and increased water capacity.[2] 100 were built numbered 4575–4599 and 5500–5574. 15 (Nos. 4578/81/89, 5511/24/29/34/35/45/55/59/60/68/72/74) were fitted with auto apparatus in 1953 to enable them to run push-pull trains on South Wales lines with auto trailers.[2]

They often are referred to as Small Prairie Class tank locomotives.

Table of orders and numbers[3]
Year Quantity Lot No. Locomotive numbers Notes
1927 30 242 4575–4599, 5500–5504
1927 20 249 5505–5524
1928 20 251 5525–5544
1928–29 30 253 5545–5574

Preservation

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11 members of the class have been preserved:

Number and name Home Status Image
4588 Peak Rail Has run in preservation,[when?] but currently out of service requiring overhaul.[as of?] It was sold from the Dartmouth Steam Railway in 2015 and is now owned by Mike Thompson and based at Peak Rail.[4]
5521/L.150 Epping Ongar Railway[5] Built in 1927, withdrawn by BR[year needed] and sent to Woodham Brothers scrapyard, having run just over 1,000,000 miles (1,600,000 km). Saved with classmates 4561 and 5542 by the West Somerset Railway Association, but was sold with 5542 to repay purchase debts and to fund restoration of 4561. Bought by Richard and William Parker in 1980, it was restored at the Flour Mill, Forest of Dean from 2004 to 2007. It was featured in the 2007 Wolsztyn Parade,[6] then travelled to Budapest, Hungary where it worked intermittently with MAV Nosztalgia, including piloting the Orient Express. It returned to Poland in 2008, operating suburban services from Wroclaw to Jelcz Laskowice. After a third appearance at the 2009 Wolsztyn Parade, it was returned to England. In May 2013, it was painted in London Transport livery and numbered L.150 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Metropolitan line. Returned to traffic in 2021 following overhaul.[7]
5526 South Devon Railway On loan to the Gwili Railway.[as of?] Boiler ticket expires in 2027.
5532 Llangollen Railway Under restoration.[8][as of?]
5538 The Flour Mill, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire Under restoration.[as of?] Previously displayed in Barry Island.[9][until when?]
5539 Barry Tourist Railway Under restoration.[as of?] Previously part of the Barry Ten until 2006.[10]
5541 Dean Forest Railway Currently operational as of 2023. Boiler ticket expires in 2024.[11]
5542 South Devon Railway Currently under overhaul at the South Devon Railway.[as of?] This locomotive has visited several preserved railways throughout her preservation career.[12]
5552 Bodmin and Wenford Railway Returned to service in 2023 after overhaul, having previously run from 2003 to 2013.[13]
5553 Peak Rail Owned by Pete Waterman. Last steam engine to leave Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales, in January 1990. First resteamed in 2002, running until 2012, mostly at the West Somerset Railway. Moved in 2015 from Crewe Heritage Centre for overhaul, which was completed in 2021 at Peak Rail. Currently operational, boiler ticket expires 2031.
5572 Didcot Railway Centre On static display awaiting overhaul.[14][as of?]

Two members of the class have also briefly been out on the mainline: 5521 and 5572. 5521 was shipped to Poland in 2007 to take part in the Wolsztyn Parade, as well as briefly piloting the Orient Express. 5572 made an appearance at an open day in Reading as part of the GWR 150 celebrations in 1985, arriving under its own power. When returning to Didcot again under its own power the engine also hauled the replica broad gauge locomotive "Iron Duke" alongside the preserved GWR Railcar W22W.[citation needed]

Models and toys

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Lima made a model[when?] of the 4575 class, number 4589, in GWR green, also a British Railways black-liveried version, running number 5574. Bachmann Branchline have for many years[when?] made various versions of the 4575 Class.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Champ (2018), p. 319.
  2. ^ a b le Fleming (1962), pp. J46–J50.
  3. ^ Allcock et al. (1968), p. 35.
  4. ^ "South Devon Railway 4588 page". Archived from the original on 20 September 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  5. ^ "Great Western Railway 4575 class 2-6-2T locomotive, 5521". Epping Ongar Railway. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  6. ^ Jones, Trevor (April 2008). "Brits' abroad: Great Western goes East". Hornby Magazine. No. 10. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. pp. 44–45. ISSN 1753-2469. OCLC 226087101.
  7. ^ "The Flour Mill 5521 page".
  8. ^ "Llangollen Railway 5532 Page".
  9. ^ "The Flour Mill Projects page".
  10. ^ "Llangollen Railway 5539 Page". Archived from the original on 30 December 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  11. ^ "Dean Forest Locomotive Group 5541 Page".
  12. ^ "5542 Web site". Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  13. ^ "Bodmin and Wenford Stock List - 5552". Archived from the original on 9 April 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  14. ^ "5572 - 2-6-2T".
  • Allcock, N. J.; Davies, F. K.; le Fleming, H. M.; Maskelyne, J. N.; Reed, P. J. T.; Tabor, F. J. (1968) [1951]. White, D. E. (ed.). The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, part one: Preliminary Survey. Kenilworth: RCTS.
  • Champ, Jim (2018). An Introduction to Great Western Locomotive Development. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Transport. ISBN 978-1-4738-7784-9. OCLC 1029234106. OL 26953051M.
  • le Fleming, H.M. (February 1962). White, D.E. (ed.). The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, part nine: Standard Two-Cylinder Classes. RCTS.
  • Whitehurst, Brian (1973). Great Western Engines, Names, Numbers, Types and Classes (1940 to Preservation). Oxford, UK: Oxford Publishing Company. pp. 40–41, 50, 102, 137. ISBN 978-0-9028-8821-0. OCLC 815661.

Further reading

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  • Green-Hughes, Evan (March 2008). "Small is beautiful". Hornby Magazine. No. 9. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. pp. 68–71. ISSN 1753-2469. OCLC 226087101.
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