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

History[]

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. 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.

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

Table of orders and numbers:
Year Quantity Lot No. Locomotive numbers Notes
1927 30 242 4574–4599, 5500–5504
1927 20 249 5505–5524
1928 20 251 5525–5544
1928–29 30 253 5545–5574

Preservation[]

11 members of the class have been preserved:

Number and name Home Status Image
4588 Peak Rail Has run in preservation, but currently out of service requiring overhaul. It was sold from the Dartmouth Steam Railway in 2015 and is now owned by Mike Thompson and based at Peak Rail. Devon Belle, Paignton-Kingswear Steam Railway - geograph.org.uk - 55729
5521/L.150 Epping Ongar Railway Built in 1927, withdrawn by BR and sent to Woodham Brothers scrapyard, having run just over 1,000,000 miles (1,600,000 km).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, 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. GWR 5521 L150 Epping Ongar Railway
5526 South Devon Railway On loan to the Gwili Railway. Boiler ticket expires in 2027. Ex gwr prairie tank 55xx no 5526 by smurfydan dfcce90-fullview
5532 Llangollen Railway Under restoration.
12313653
5538 The Flour Mill, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire Under restoration. Previously displayed in Barry Island. Churchdown local train geograph-2935671-by-Ben-Brooksbank
5539 Barry Tourist Railway Under restoration. Previously part of the Barry Ten until 2006.
5539-at-coombe-junction-leaving-for-liskeard-1958
5541 Dean Forest Railway Currently operational. Boiler ticket expires in 2024. 5541 Dean Forest Railway - 48665905441
5542 South Devon Railway Currently operational at the South Devon Railway. This locomotive has visited several preserved railways throughout her preservation career. Boiler ticket expired in 2022. Totnes 5542 shirtbutton livery
5552 Bodmin and Wenford Railway Has run in preservation and is currently under overhaul. Totnes SDR 5552
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. Moved in 2015 from Crewe Heritage Centre for overhaul. Currently operational, boiler ticket expires 2031. 8C25041E-6852-48FE-A827-E72F6E31B3B2
5572 Didcot Railway Centre On static display awaiting overhaul. 5572 Didcot (1)

Two members of the class have also briefly been out on the mainline: 5521 and 5572. 5521 was shipped to Poland 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 GWR150 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.

Models and toys[]

Lima made a model 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 made various versions of the 4575 Class.

Gallery[]

See also[]

External links[]

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