Locomotive a vapore - Great Western Railway: libri (2/2)

Great Western - Eight Coupled Heavy Freight Locomotives (Locomotive Portfolio)

The first of a series of 'Locomotive Profiles' to be published by Pen & Sword. It describes the conception, design, building and operation of the fleet of powerful locomotives built in the first half of the twentieth century to meet the demands of the growing South Wales coal and steel industries and the West Midlands area served by the Great Western Railway.

Whilst concentrating mainly on the standard designs of the great locomotive engineer, George Jackson Churchward, the 28XX and 47XX 2-8-0 locomotives, it also covers the 2-8-0 and 2-8-2 tank engines designed for the South Wales Valleys mining areas and coal exports through Newport, Cardiff, Barry and Swansea Docks, and other 2-8-0 locomotives acquired by the Great Western to cope with the increased industrial needs during both world wars - the RODs, Swindon built 8Fs, WDs and American S160s.

The book also covers the earliest designs of the Barry and Port Talbot Railways intended to cope with the valley coal traffic. The book is copiously illustrated with 150 black and white and 50 coloured photographs and is a comprehensive record of some outstanding freight locomotives, many of the oldest engines still operating to the end of steam on British Railways in the mid 1960s, sixty years after they were designed.

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Great Western - Large Wheeled Outside Framed 4-4-0 Tender Locomotives (Locomotive Portfolio)

This volume extensively covers the large-wheeled outside frame classes of 4-4-0 tender locomotives that were once in service on the Great Western Railway. Specifically, it delves into the Atbara, Badminton, City, and Flower Classes, providing comprehensive details on each class. The book is enriched with high-quality pictures, diagrams, and lists of names and numbers.

Offering valuable insights for model makers, the publication meticulously documents mechanical and livery changes that occurred from the 1900s to the early 1930s. During this period, all locomotives from these classes, except the preserved 3440, City of Truro, were eventually withdrawn and scrapped.

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Great Western Manor Class (Locomotive Portfolio)

The 30 Manor class 4-6-0s were designed by CB Collett in 1938, and built by the Great Western, and the Western Region at Swindon in two batches, 20 in 1938/9, and 10 in 1950.
In order to save money the first 20 members of the class were built using parts from withdrawn 4300 class 2-6-0s, and were coupled to refurbished Churchward 3,500 gallon tenders. The lighter 4-6-0s Manors were given 'blue' route classification which allowed them to work over many secondary lines.
The construction of the Manors completed the final stage of Collett's plan to provide a full range of 4-6-0 tender locomotives for Great Western passenger services.

Over the years the Manors saw extensive use on services in the South West, West Wales and ex-Cambrian Lines in North Wales. They provided motive power for both the 'Pembroke Coast Express' and the 'Cambrian Coast Express'.
Many of the class lasted to the end of steam traction on the Western Region, with the last examples being withdrawn in November 1965. Remarkably of the original 30 members of the class no fewer than 9 have survived.

In this book, author Laurence Waters charts the history of the class from their construction at Swindon in 1938, right through to the final withdrawals in 1965. Using many previously unpublished black and white, and colour photographs, accompanied by informative captions, each member of the class is illustrated.
This book should appeal to those interested in the history of Great Western Locomotive development as well as modellers of the Great Western and Western Region.

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Great Western Railway Pannier Tanks

The name 'Great Western Railway' immediately conjures up images of Stars, Castles and Kings, the legendary express passenger locomotives that were the envy of the world in their day.
However, the Swindon empire also produced extensive fleets of all-purpose tank engines - everyday reliable workhorses and unsung heroes - which were also standout classics in their own right. The most distinctive and immediately recognizable type in terms of shape, all but unique to the GWR, was the six-coupled pannier tank.

With hundreds of photographs throughout, "Great Western Railway Pannier Tanks" covers:
- The supremely innovative pannier tank designs of GWR chief mechanical engineer Charles Benjamin Collett
- The appearance of the 5700 class in 1929
- The 5400, 6400, 7400 and 9400 classes
- The demise of the panniers in British Railways service and the 5700s that marked the end of Western Region steam
- A second life beneath the streets - 5700 class panniers on London Underground
- Panniers in preservation, plus cinema and TV roles and even a Royal Train duty.

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Great Western Saint Class Locomotives (Locomotive Portfolio)

Churchward's 2 cylinder Saint Class 4-6-0s were arguably one of the most important locomotive developments of the twentieth century. The seventy-seven members of the class were so successful that most of the other railway companies in the UK used the same 2 cylinder 4-6-0 formula in the design of their own mixed traffic locomotives.

Over the years the Saints saw a number of modifications, with many of the class passing into BR ownership. The last member of the class, no. 2920 Saint Martin, was withdrawn from service in 1953 and was sadly not preserved.
However, the Great Western Society are now constructing a replica Saint at Didcot Railway Centre. Numbered 2999 it will be named Lady of Legend.

In this book author Laurence Waters charts the remarkable history of the class from the construction of the prototype Saint at Swindon in 1902, right through to the final withdrawals in 1953. Using many previously unpublished black and white photographs, accompanied by informative captions, each member of the class is illustrated.

This book should appeal to those interested in the history of Great Western Locomotive development as well as modellers of the Great Western and Western Region.

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Great Western Star Class Locomotives (Locomotive Portfolio)

Designed by G.J. Churchward, no. 40 was constructed at Swindon in April 1906. It was Swindons first 4 cylinder simple engine and was the forerunner of Churchwards famous 4 cylinder Star Class 4-6-0s. Initially built as a 4-4-2 Atlantic, no. 40 was named North Star in September 1906, rebuilt as a 4-6-0 in 1909, and renumbered 4000 in 1913.

Including no. 40, the Star class eventually numbered seventy-three locomotives, all built at Swindon in batches between 1906 and 1923. In service the Stars proved to be both free-running and reliable locomotives, and for many years were used to haul the Great Westerns top link services, including the world-famous Cornish Riviera Express.

The introduction of the Collett Castle Class 4-6-0s in 1923, and the King Class 4-6-0s in 1927, saw the Stars relegated to secondary passenger, freight and parcels services. A number of Stars were rebuilt by Collett as Castles, including the prototype no. 4000 North Star, but the remaining Stars continued to give good service.
At Nationalisation in 1948, no less than 47 of these fine locomotives passed into Western Region ownership, the last example, no.4056 Princess Margaret, being withdrawn in October 1957.

In this book, Laurence Waters charts the history of the class from the prototype, right through to the final workings in October 1957. Using many previously unpublished photographs from the Great Western Trust photographic collection, accompanied by informative captions, every member of the Class is illustrated.

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GWR Locomotives: The Manor Class

A fascinating illustrated insight into this iconic Manor Class of locomotuves used by the Great Western Railway. The Manor class 4-6-0s were introduced for lightly laid lines and so were popular on the Cambrian Coast Express as well as the Newcastle-Swansea port-to-port express. Although only thirty were ever built, almost one third of the class has survived in preservation, such is the fondness felt for it by enthusiasts.

One dedicated group spent fifteen years restoring Foxcote Manor from scrapyard condition and there are other instances of such sacrifice and hard work, allowing these engines to live on.
We are fortunate that these locomotives survive into preservation and their proud story continues with an assured future on many heritage lines.

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GWR Locomotives: The Prairies

Known as the Prairies, these tank engines of the 2-6-2T variety were some of Churchward's earliest designs and were the precursor for successful variations of one of the classes - numbered 51XX until 1949.
There were two basic types, the smaller type for branch lines and the larger type mostly for outer suburban work in London and Birmingham, but also used as banking engines at Sapperton, Rattery, Hemerdon and Dainton inclines.
The smaller 45XX class started off as a class of seventy-five engines, but were eventually developed by Collett into a class more than double the size. They saw service on the St Ives portion of the Cornish Riviera Express and the Pwllheli portion of the Cambrian Coast Express.

Profusely illustrated throughout and packed with technical detail, Allen Jackson tells the story of the Great Western Railway's Prairie class locomotives.

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