2-6-2 Steam Locomotives in Great Britain

Class 44xx (Locobase 10478)

See [] (Information by John Daniel, 2000) for all names. [], accessed 2 September 2005. Also see "Locomotive Devleopments on the Great Western Railway," The Locomotive Magazine, Vol X (15 December 1904), pp. 208-209.

GJ Churchward variation on this wheel arrangement that was smaller than the 2-6-2T that came out 2 years before and had inside cylinders. Consequently, these known as "Small Prairies", a mis-application of the term for 2-6-2s. They operated on branch lines in the West Country and Wales. They had all-wheel compensation through springing and the radial axles in front and rear could have their fulcrums shifted as needed.

Locobase 2317 details the much larger class of 4500s that resulted when a larger driving wheel diameter was adopted. 4400s later received 17" cylinders and were superheated.

Retirements of the 4400s occurred in 1949-1955.

Class 45xx (Locobase 2317)

See [] (Information by John Daniel, 2000) for details on this class, including all names. [], accessed 2 September 2005. Also see "Locomotive Developments on the Great Western Railway," The Locomotive Magazine, Volume X [10] (15 December 1904), pp. 208-209.

GJ Churchward's "Small Prairies" began with a low-drivered batch produced in 1904 (see Locobase 10478). Their handy size and power were an immediate hit, but the design was thought to be lacking in potential speed.

So Swindon began delivering very similar engines with somewhat taller drivers, the change leading to the 4500 class identification. 55 were built in five batches in the 10 years of 1906-1915 and an additional 20 in 1924. Beginning with 4575, Charles Collett modified the design to accept sloping tanks of increased capacity. 100 were produced at Swindon from 1927-1929.

The [] account (accessed 18 August 2007) observes: "The class worked extensively in Wales and the West of England. One of the star turns of the class was hauling part of the Cambrian Coast Express to Pwllheli in the 1950s and 1960s, as well as parts of the Cornish Riviera Express. Despite their apparently small size, they were capable of good acceleration, and could haul passenger trains of up to 11 coaches." Llangollen also notes the drive-away price in 1928 of their example: 3,602 GBS ($18,010 in then-year USD).

The 4500s began leaving in 1950, the last going out in 1964.

See [] (Information by John Daniel, 2000) for details on this class, including all names. [], accessed 2 September 2005.

Class 5101 (Locobase 21254)

Data from "Tank Engines: Great Western Railway", Railway Engineeer, Volume 27, No 6 (June 1906), pp. 177-180. See also "A Beginners Guide to GWR Large Prairie Tank Engines" on Jim Champ's Some Great Western Railway Information web site at [], last accessed 18 April 2025. (Thanks to Alex Blessing for his 4 April 2025 email noting details of the original design, which inspired Locobase to create this entry.)

Good dual-service tanks built in several series and known as Large Prairies. (Inaccurately, since these tank locomotives adopted the 2-6-2 arrangement for very different reasons from those informing the design of the tender-engined type.) Churchward's designs usually used a Belpaire firebox and these mixed-traffic tanks were no exception. iThe pony truck led the engine while a radial rear truck under the bunker allowed negotiation of tighter curves. Flexible at both ends, the engine could take curves smoothly running in either direction.

Many of the class handled heavy freights between London and Swindon.

Reitrements spread out over decades with the last 11 closing out steam operations on the GWR in December 1965.

See [] (Information by John Daniel, 26 Sept 2004) for details on this class, including all names.

Here's his construction list:

Built: 1903 (3100)

1905/6 (3111 - 3149)

1906-8 (3150 - 3190)

1929 (5101 - 5110)

1930/1 (5150 - 5189)

1931-3 (6100 - 6159)

1934 (5190 - 5199)

1935 (6160 - 6169)

1935-9 (4100 - 4139)

1938/9 (3100 - 3104, 8100 - 8109)

1946-9 (4140 - 4179)

Class 5101/31/41/51/61/81xx (Locobase 3586)

Data from "Tank Engines: Great Western Railway", Railway Engineeer, Volume 27, No 6 (June 1906), pp. 177-178. See also "A Beginners Guide to GWR Large Prairie Tank Engines" on Jim Champ's Some Great Western Railway Information web site at [], last accessed 18 April 2025.

See Locobase 21254 for the original 1903 configuration with saturated boiler.

Data is for the 5100s, which introduced the Standard #2 boiler (with Belpaire firebox) reflected in the data in place of the Standard #4. (These were originally delivered with 1,582 sq ft/146.97 sq m) of heating surface area; tube heating surface was supplied by 289 tubes measuring 1 5/8"/41 mm in diameter and 11 ft 4 5/16"/3.46 m in length.)

Boiler pressure went up to 225 psi in the 6100s (27,340 lb tractive effort).

8100-series engines came from the 5100 series using a Standard #2 boiler pressed to 225 psi and turning 66" (1,676 mm) wheels. (Weights were 118,272 lb/53,647 kg or 52 long tons 16 cwt) on the drivers, 147,056 lb/66,704 kg or 65 LT 13 cwt) engine empty, 171,472 lb/77,774 kg or 76 LT 11 cwt operating)

Reitrements spread out over decades with the last 11 closing out steam operations on the GWR in December 1965.

See [] (Information by John Daniel, 26 Sept 2004) for details on this class, including all names.

Here's his construction list:

Built: 1903 (3100)

1905/6 (3111 - 3149)

1906-8 (3150 - 3190)

1929 (5101 - 5110)

1930/1 (5150 - 5189)

1931-3 (6100 - 6159)

1934 (5190 - 5199)

1935 (6160 - 6169)

1935-9 (4100 - 4139)

1938/9 (3100 - 3104, 8100 - 8109)

1946-9 (4140 - 4179)