GWR (Great Western Railway) No. 9642 is a 5700 Class 0-6-0PT Pannier Tank Engine built in 1946 by the GWR Swindon Works for the Great Western Railway.
History[]
After the 1955 Modernisation Plan, the reduction in branch line work and the introduction of diesel shunters, the Western Region embarked on a dieselisation program which, along with a reduction in branch line work, reduced the demand for the services of the 5700s. Withdrawals of the class from service started in 1956 and was completed in 1966.
No. 9642 was withdrawn from service in 1964 and was sent to work at Hayes Scrapyard, near Bridgend. Rather than being scrapped, it was used to shunt other locomotives being scrapped. It was due for disposal itself in 1967, which would have made it the 346th locomotive to be scrapped there, but due to a last minute intervention the locomotive was bought in 1968 and restored by the South Wales Pannier Group.
No. 9642 was moved to Maesteg Colliery, where it gave break van rides from the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. It was later moved to the Swansea Valley Railway Society, and then the Dean Forest Railway in 1994.
In 2005 No. 9642 was bought privately for use on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. It was removed from service for an overhaul and will return to operation once its restoration is complete.
Trivia[]
- No. 9642 is one of sixteen surviving members of the GWR 570 Class in preservation.
- It was the first member of the class to be preserved.
Gallery[]
.jpg "Waiting in the rain... (2086198303).jpg (565 KB)")
.jpg "GWR Collett 57XX Class 9642 (8220977889).jpg (239 KB)")