GWR 4200 Class
Encyclopedia
The Great Western Railway
(GWR) 4200 Class is a class of 2-8-0T steam locomotive
s. They were designed for short-haul coal trips from coal mines to port
s in South Wales
. The principal role of the class was working the 1000+ ton coal trains up through the Welsh valleys. A job which needed much tractive effort, due to train weights and gradients, and good steaming capabilities. The large boiler was enabled into the design due to the narrow side tanks; these engines would pass numerous water stop
s along their routes so it was never a worry, because of the class’s heavy water consumption and limited tank capacity they were nicknamed “Water Carts”. Many of the lines in South Wales had sharp curves in them. Due to this the locomotives were constructed with side play in the trailing driving wheels, this in turn meant jointed coupling rods with sideways as well as up and down movement. Therefore the trailing coupling rods were fitted with spherical joints to allow for movement in any direction.
Building of this type of locomotive carried on until 1940, with a total of 156 engines being built.
The later 5205 Class
were very similar. Some were rebuilt in the form of 2-8-2T of the 7200 Class
.
All five engines were rescued from Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales
with 4247 leaving the yard in Apr 1985, 4253 leaving in Aug 1987, 4248 leaving in May 1986, 4270 leaving in July 1985 and 4277 leaving the yard in June 1986.
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
(GWR) 4200 Class is a class of 2-8-0T steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s. They were designed for short-haul coal trips from coal mines to port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
s in South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
. The principal role of the class was working the 1000+ ton coal trains up through the Welsh valleys. A job which needed much tractive effort, due to train weights and gradients, and good steaming capabilities. The large boiler was enabled into the design due to the narrow side tanks; these engines would pass numerous water stop
Water stop
A water stop or water station on a railroad is a place where trains stop to replenish water. The stopping of the train itself is also referred to as "water stop". The term originates from the times of steam engines, when large amounts of water were essential...
s along their routes so it was never a worry, because of the class’s heavy water consumption and limited tank capacity they were nicknamed “Water Carts”. Many of the lines in South Wales had sharp curves in them. Due to this the locomotives were constructed with side play in the trailing driving wheels, this in turn meant jointed coupling rods with sideways as well as up and down movement. Therefore the trailing coupling rods were fitted with spherical joints to allow for movement in any direction.
Building of this type of locomotive carried on until 1940, with a total of 156 engines being built.
The later 5205 Class
GWR 5205 Class
The Great Western Railway 5205 Class is a class of 2-8-0T steam locomotives. They were designed for short-haul coal trips from coal mines to ports in South Wales....
were very similar. Some were rebuilt in the form of 2-8-2T of the 7200 Class
GWR 7200 Class
The Great Western Railway 7200 Class is a class of 2-8-2T steam locomotive. They were the largest tank engines to run in Great Britain....
.
Preservation
Five have been preserved, nos 4247, 4248, 4253, 4270 and 4277.All five engines were rescued from Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
with 4247 leaving the yard in Apr 1985, 4253 leaving in Aug 1987, 4248 leaving in May 1986, 4270 leaving in July 1985 and 4277 leaving the yard in June 1986.
- 4247 is currently on the Bodmin and Wenford RailwayBodmin and Wenford RailwayThe Bodmin & Wenford Railway is a heritage railway, based at Bodmin in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It has an interchange with the national rail network at Bodmin Parkway railway station, the southern terminus of the line.-History:...
- 4248 is on static display at Swindon Steam Railway MuseumSwindon Steam Railway MuseumSTEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway, also known as Swindon Steam Railway Museum, is located at the site of the old railway works in Swindon, England – Wiltshire's 'railway town'...
dismantled as if a locomotive 'in the works'. - 4253 is awaiting restoration on the Kent and East Sussex RailwayKent and East Sussex RailwayThe Kent & East Sussex Railway refers to both an historical private railway company in Kent and Sussex in England, as well as a heritage railway currently running on part of the route of the historical company.-Historical Company:-Background:...
- 4270 is under restoration at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire RailwayGloucestershire Warwickshire RailwayThe Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway is a volunteer-run heritage railway on the Gloucestershire/Worcestershire/Warwickshire Borders that has reopened the closed railway line between Laverton Halt and Cheltenham Racecourse railway stations in Gloucestershire/Worcestershire., it currently...
, owned by Jeremy HoskingJeremy HoskingJeremy J. Hosking is a British businessman, a co-founder and investment portfolio manager for private investment fund Marathon. Hosking is also well known for his extensive collection of steam locomotives, and 25% share holding in Crystal Palace F.C.... - 4277 is on the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam RailwayPaignton and Dartmouth Steam RailwayThe Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway is a heritage railway on the former Kingswear branch line between Paignton and Kingswear in Torbay, Devon, England....
Sources
- Ian Allan ABC of British Railways Locomotives, winter 1957/8 edition, part 1, pp 20–21