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The Great Western Railway

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...

4900 Class or Hall Class is a class of 4-6-0

4-6-0

Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles in a leading truck, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels. This wheel arrangement became the second-most popular...

mixed traffic 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 designed by Charles Collett

Charles Collett

Charles Benjamin Collett was chief mechanical engineer of the Great Western Railway from 1922 to 1941. He designed the GWR's 4-6-0 Castle and King Class express passenger locomotives.-Career:...

. A total of 259 were built, numbered 4900–4999, 5900–5999 and 6900–6958. The LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0

LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0

The London Midland and Scottish Railway's Class 5 4-6-0, almost universally known as the Black Five, is a class of steam locomotive. It was introduced by William Stanier in 1934 and 842 were built between then and 1951...

and LNER Thompson Class B1

LNER Thompson Class B1

The London and North Eastern Railway Thompson Class B1 is a class of steam locomotive designed for medium mixed traffic work. It was designed by Edward Thompson.- Overview :...

both drew heavily on design features of the Hall Class. After nationalisation in 1948, British Railways gave them the power classification 5MT.

Prototype

The prototype was rebuilt from GWR Saint Class

GWR 2900 Class

The Great Western Railway 2900 or Saint Class were a class of 4-6-0 steam locomotives for passenger train work. Number 2925 Saint Martin was later rebuilt as the prototype Hall Class locomotive, and renumbered 4900.-Prototypes:...

number 2925 Saint Martin in 1924 with smaller driving wheels. Additionally the cylinders were realigned in relation to the driving axle and a more modern 'Castle'-type cab was fitted. The rebuilt Saint Martin emerged from Swindon in 1924 and, renumbered 4900, embarked on three years of trials. During this period Collett introduced other modifications. The pitch of the taper boiler was altered and outside steam pipes were added.

Production

Satisfied with no.4900's performance Collett placed an order with Swindon works and the first of the new two-cylinder Halls entered service in 1928. They differed little from the prototype; the bogie wheel diameter had been reduced by two inches from 3 in 2 in (0.9652 m) to 3 in 0 in (0.9144 m) and the valve setting amended to give an increased travel of 7.5 in (191 mm). The overall weight of the locomotive had increased by to but a tractive effort of 27275 lbf (121.3 kN) compared favourably with the 24935 lbf (110.9 kN) of the ‘Saint’.

In what amounted to a trial run the first 14 were despatched to the arduous proving grounds of the Cornish main line. However they were so successful here and elsewhere on the GW system that by the time the first production batch of 80 had been completed in 1930 a further 178 were on order. By 1935, 150 were in service and the 259th and last Hall, No. 6958 Oxburgh Hall, was delivered in 1943.

Modified Hall

Collett had been replaced by F.W. Hawksworth

Frederick Hawksworth

Frederick W. Hawksworth , was Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Great Western Railway ....

in 1941 and Hawksworth created a modified version known as the Modified Hall Class

GWR 6959 Class

The Great Western Railway 6959 Class or Modified Hall Class is a class of 4-6-0 steam locomotive. They were a development by Frederick Hawksworth of Charles Collett's earlier Hall Class....

which remained in production until 1950. One of Hawksworth's modifications in changing the design was to equip it better to cope with the low quality coal available during the war. If anything the situation worsened after the war, leading to serious consideration being given to oil firing. Beginning in 1946 with No. 5955 Garth Hall the GWR converted 11 of the class to burn oil. Within four years, however, they had all reverted to coal.

British Railways

All but one of the original Collett Halls entered British Railways service in 1948, the exception being No. 4911 Bowden Hall which took a direct hit during a bombing raid on the Plymouth area in April 1941 and was broken up. Official withdrawals began in 1959 with the prototype Saint Martin. Its accumulated mileage, both in its original form and rebuilt form, was a remarkable 2,092,500 miles.

Preservation

By 1965 the last Hall had been withdrawn from the Western Region without a single one entering the National Collection. Eleven examples of the Hall class have survived to preservation and No. 4942 Maindy Hall is being back-converted into a GWR Saint Class

GWR 2900 Class

locomotive at Didcot Railway Centre

Didcot Railway Centre

Didcot Railway Centre, located in the town of Didcot in the English county of Oxfordshire, is based around the site of a comprehensive "engine shed" which became redundant after the nationalisation of the UK railways, due to the gradual changeover from steam to diesel motive power.-Description:The...

Number	Name	Built	Withdrawn	Notes
4920 GWR 4900 Class 4920 Dumbleton Hall Dumbleton Hall is a British Collett-built GWR 4900 Class 4-6-0 steam locomotive, built in Swindon in March 1929. Its first shed allocation was at Old Oak Common. In August 1950 the shed allocation was Reading, and in March 1959 it was allocated to Newton Abbot. The locomotive's last shed...	Dumbleton Hall GWR 4900 Class 4920 Dumbleton Hall Dumbleton Hall is a British Collett-built GWR 4900 Class 4-6-0 steam locomotive, built in Swindon in March 1929. Its first shed allocation was at Old Oak Common. In August 1950 the shed allocation was Reading, and in March 1959 it was allocated to Newton Abbot. The locomotive's last shed...	March 1929	December 1965	Preserved at South Devon Railway South Devon Railway Trust The South Devon Railway Trust is a charitable organisation that operates a heritage railway from Totnes to Buckfastleigh in Devon, alongside the River Dart... , static display, awaiting overhaul.
4930 GWR 4900 Class 4930 Hagley Hall 4930 Hagley Hall is a Great Western Railway, 4-6-0 Hall class locomotive. Built in May 1929 at Swindon Works to a design by Charles Collett. It is one of eleven of this class that made it into preservation. The train is named for Hagley Hall in Worcestershire....	Hagley Hall GWR 4900 Class 4930 Hagley Hall 4930 Hagley Hall is a Great Western Railway, 4-6-0 Hall class locomotive. Built in May 1929 at Swindon Works to a design by Charles Collett. It is one of eleven of this class that made it into preservation. The train is named for Hagley Hall in Worcestershire....	May 1929	December 1963	Preserved at Severn Valley Railway Severn Valley Railway The Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route... , static display in the engine house, awaiting overhaul.
4936 GWR 4900 Class 4936 Kinlet Hall The Great Western Railway steam locomotive no. 4936 Kinlet Hall is a 4-6-0 Hall class locomotive.-Operations:Built in June 1929 at Swindon Works, it was withdrawn from service with British Railways in 1964 and sold for scrap to Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, South Wales.-Preservation:In 1981,...	Kinlet Hall GWR 4900 Class 4936 Kinlet Hall The Great Western Railway steam locomotive no. 4936 Kinlet Hall is a 4-6-0 Hall class locomotive.-Operations:Built in June 1929 at Swindon Works, it was withdrawn from service with British Railways in 1964 and sold for scrap to Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, South Wales.-Preservation:In 1981,...	June 1929	January 1964	Preserved at Tyseley Locomotive Works. Operational, mainline certified.
4942 GWR 4900 Class 4942 Maindy Hall GWR 4900 Class No. 4942 Maindy Hall is a 4-6-0 steam locomotive of the Great Western Railway 4900 Class . She was built in 1929 at Swindon.- Preservation :...	Maindy Hall GWR 4900 Class 4942 Maindy Hall GWR 4900 Class No. 4942 Maindy Hall is a 4-6-0 steam locomotive of the Great Western Railway 4900 Class . She was built in 1929 at Swindon.- Preservation :...	July 1929	December 1963	Preserved at Didcot Railway Centre Didcot Railway Centre Didcot Railway Centre, located in the town of Didcot in the English county of Oxfordshire, is based around the site of a comprehensive "engine shed" which became redundant after the nationalisation of the UK railways, due to the gradual changeover from steam to diesel motive power.-Description:The... , currently being 'regressed' back to a GWR Saint Class GWR 2900 Class The Great Western Railway 2900 or Saint Class were a class of 4-6-0 steam locomotives for passenger train work. Number 2925 Saint Martin was later rebuilt as the prototype Hall Class locomotive, and renumbered 4900.-Prototypes:... .
4953 GWR 4900 Class 4953 Pitchford Hall No. 4953 Pitchford Hall is a 4-6-0 Hall class steam locomotive built by the Great Western Railway at Swindon Works in August 1929 for a cost of £4375....	Pitchford Hall GWR 4900 Class 4953 Pitchford Hall No. 4953 Pitchford Hall is a 4-6-0 Hall class steam locomotive built by the Great Western Railway at Swindon Works in August 1929 for a cost of £4375....	August 1929	May 1963	Preserved at Great Central Railway Great Central Railway The Great Central Railway was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension . On 1 January 1923, it was grouped into the London and North Eastern... , Loughborough. Operational, mainline certified. Owned by Dr John F Kennedy
4965 GWR 4900 Class 4965 Rood Ashton Hall The Great Western Railway steam locomotive no. 4965 Rood Ashton Hall is a 4-6-0 Hall class locomotive. It is currently preserved at Tyseley Locomotive Works...	Rood Ashton Hall GWR 4900 Class 4965 Rood Ashton Hall The Great Western Railway steam locomotive no. 4965 Rood Ashton Hall is a 4-6-0 Hall class locomotive. It is currently preserved at Tyseley Locomotive Works...	November 1930	March 1962	Preserved at Tyseley Locomotive Works. Operational, mainline certified.
4979 GWR 4900 Class 4979 Wootton Hall GWR 4900 Class 4-6-0 No. 4979 Wootton Hall is a steam locomotive. It was built at Swindon, February 1930, and was one of 258 Hall class steam locomotives constructed....	Wootton Hall GWR 4900 Class 4979 Wootton Hall GWR 4900 Class 4-6-0 No. 4979 Wootton Hall is a steam locomotive. It was built at Swindon, February 1930, and was one of 258 Hall class steam locomotives constructed....	February 1930	December 1963	Preserved at Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway The Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway is a heritage railway in Cumbria, England.-Location:The L&HR runs from Haverthwaite at the southern end of the line via Newby Bridge to Lakeside at the southern end of Windermere... , stored awaiting restoration at the Appleby Training & Heritage Centre.
5900 GWR 4900 Class 5900 Hinderton Hall Hinderton Hall is a 4-6-0 GWR 4900 Class locomotive, currently preserved at Didcot Railway Centre. It was designed by Collett in 1928, built at Swindon in 1931 as the 101st of its class....	Hinderton Hall GWR 4900 Class 5900 Hinderton Hall Hinderton Hall is a 4-6-0 GWR 4900 Class locomotive, currently preserved at Didcot Railway Centre. It was designed by Collett in 1928, built at Swindon in 1931 as the 101st of its class....	March 1931	December 1963	Preserved at Didcot Railway Centre Didcot Railway Centre Didcot Railway Centre, located in the town of Didcot in the English county of Oxfordshire, is based around the site of a comprehensive "engine shed" which became redundant after the nationalisation of the UK railways, due to the gradual changeover from steam to diesel motive power.-Description:The... , static display, awaiting overhaul.
5952 GWR 4900 Class 5952 Cogan Hall GWR Hall Class 5952 was built at Swindon in December 1935. As a mixed traffic engine it would have handled both passenger duties and freight duties....	Cogan Hall GWR 4900 Class 5952 Cogan Hall GWR Hall Class 5952 was built at Swindon in December 1935. As a mixed traffic engine it would have handled both passenger duties and freight duties....	December 1935	June 1964	Preserved at Llangollen Railway Llangollen Railway The Llangollen Railway is a volunteer-run preserved railway in Denbighshire, Wales, which operates between Llangollen and Carrog; at long, it is the longest preserved standard gauge line in Wales and operates daily in Summer as well as weekends throughout the Winter months using a wide variety of... ,some parts to be used for 6880 Betton Grange GWR 6800 Class 6880 Betton Grange No.6880 Betton Grange is a steam locomotive which is presently under construction as a "new-build" project, based on the Llangollen Railway in Denbighshire, Wales. Described as "building the 81st Grange", the project started in 1998, and the locomotive is expected to be operational by 2013... , but will hopefully be restored to working order.
5967 GWR 4900 Class 5967 Bickmarsh Hall The GWR 4900 Class locomotive No. 5967 Bickmarsh Hall was built at Swindon railway works, and was completed in March 1937. First allocated to Chester, in August 1950 it was allocated to Banbury, and then in March 1959 to Newton Abbott...	Bickmarsh Hall GWR 4900 Class 5967 Bickmarsh Hall The GWR 4900 Class locomotive No. 5967 Bickmarsh Hall was built at Swindon railway works, and was completed in March 1937. First allocated to Chester, in August 1950 it was allocated to Banbury, and then in March 1959 to Newton Abbott...	March 1937	June 1964	Preserved at Northampton & Lamport Railway Northampton & Lamport Railway The Northampton & Lamport Railway is a standard gauge heritage railway in Northamptonshire, England. It is based at Pitsford and Brampton station, near the villages of Pitsford and Chapel Brampton, roughly north of Northampton.-Overview:... , undergoing restoration.
5972 GWR 4900 Class 5972 Olton Hall The steam locomotive no. 5972 "Olton Hall" is a 4-6-0 Hall class locomotive.In the 2000s the locomotive achieved fame after it was used to haul the "Hogwarts Express" in the Harry Potter series of films.-Service:...	Olton Hall GWR 4900 Class 5972 Olton Hall The steam locomotive no. 5972 "Olton Hall" is a 4-6-0 Hall class locomotive.In the 2000s the locomotive achieved fame after it was used to haul the "Hogwarts Express" in the Harry Potter series of films.-Service:...	April 1937	December 1963	Preserved at Carnforth West Coast Railway Company West Coast Railways, also known as West Coast Railway Company, is a railway spot-hire company and charter train operator, based at Carnforth in Lancashire, on the site of the old Steamtown heritage depot... , currently certified for Mainline operation. Generally only used for the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter Harry Potter Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry... films.

In fiction

In the Harry Potter

Harry Potter

Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...

films, No. 5972 Olton Hall is used to pull the Hogwarts Express.