GWR Dean Goods, County Tank, Class 4300 Mogul & Class 4700

Hi All

I have added 4 small collections of GWR locos, some photos taken in the 1930's maybe a bit rare, not sure.
Dean Goods Class 2301 & 2361
2369 Reading 1935
http://www.steamlocomotives.photos.gb.net/p67176234.html
2434 Pontypool 1935
http://www.steamlocomotives.photos.gb.net/p67176231.html

County Class 4-4-2T
2243 Old Oak Common 1936
http://www.steamlocomotives.photos.gb.net/p67176263.html

GWR 4700 Class 2-8-0 freight loco
4702 on a passenger turn at Plymouth 1961
http://www.steamlocomotives.photos.gb.net/p67176280.html

GWR Class 4300 mogul (Help with shedcodes please)
5324 with Pembroke Coast Express headboard at 87G
http://www.steamlocomotives.photos.gb.net/p67176274.html
5335 at 88A
http://www.steamlocomotives.photos.gb.net/p67176276.html
5369 at 84D
http://www.steamlocomotives.photos.gb.net/p67176277.html
6397 at 83E
http://www.steamlocomotives.photos.gb.net/p67176278.html
7318 unknown
http://www.steamlocomotives.photos.gb.net/p67176275.html
5322 Caerphilly
http://www.steamlocomotives.photos.gb.net/p67176279.html

Neil

 

what were county tanks like as a loco?

 

Shed codes:
87G Carmarthen
88A depends on date of picture, in 1960 it was Cardiff (Radyr) previously it was Cardiff (Cathays).
84D Leamington
83E St. Blazey

 

I've read somewhere that the original counties and their tank deriviatives were a bit rough riding and weren't that popular with crews. Clearly they were non standard compared to the other 6 coupled locos, but I suspect if they'd been any good they'd have survived despite the two missing drivers!

 

Thanks i have put both Cardiff Sheds down for 88A as i am not sure of date of photo

Neil

 

I think the County Tanks were just outclassed by the 6100 class 2-6-2 tanks which arrived in the London area in the 1930s and there was no other suitable work for them. Similarly the County 4-4-0s were overtaken by the large number of Halls then being built. The GWR established itself as a six-coupled railway early on.

 

Both the early 38xx County Class and the County tanks were disliked by crews because of their tendency to be very rough riders, it has something to do with the large reciprocating mass and the very short wheelbase

 

The GWR retired all their large wheel 4 coupled engines in a fairly short period - roughly 1927-1933 so it was clearly a policy change. You'd have to say, I think, that they were as much replaced by Castles as anything else if you look at the numbers of express locomotives in existence at any time - 40 38xx and 70 41xx went over 1927-33 whilst 30 Kings and 30 Castles were being built. In practice Stars replaced Counties and Castles and Kings replaced Stars. Other lines were still building 4 coupled Express locomotives after the GWR had scrapped all theirs (except 3717/3440).

 

quite good looking locomotives really

 

I have heard rumors from didcot that the county 4-4-0 is going to go ahead. If so what parts do they have already? Do they have a spare no4 boiler or wheelsets or anything?

Gav

 

I thought they were going to build a County Tank? Pity really, because the 4-4-0 is a very handsome engine , the tank less so imho.

 

I beleive that the reason for builing the Countys was the weak bridges on the Joint Line through Shrewsbury not being cleared for Saints and once this was finally sorted there was no longer any need for the Counties.

The County Tanks were mostly suburban engines and were outclassed by the 2-6-2ts which were more suitable.

Both these classes would have been withdrawn when major renewals were needed and many of the components re-used so replacing them made econmic sense as well as improving operating factors.

I'd love to see both re-created.Even more so, I would like to see more Victorian locos re-created, such as a GWR 4-2-2

 

What was the County 4-4-0 like on Weight and route restrictions ?, If they were light enough would they have made a better choice for the Cambrian than the Dukedog "rebuilds" ?.

 

But are there enough unrestored locos still available to be butchered?

 

Oh gosh no, they were red route locos with 18 tons 4cwt on the leading drivers and nearly 10 tons heavier than the Dukedogs. The Dukedogs were effectively Bulldogs downgraded with a lighter boiler than the Std 2 the Bulldogs had, and the County's had the even heavier Std 4. The Std 4 boiler could be a bit marginal feeding a standard front end when running far and fast: I imagine the little Duke boiler wouldn't have stood a chance.

 

yeah. loads odf SOuthern Pacifics around that might donate something

 

Sorry, only the GWR are known as the pick and mix crew.

 

Yeah break up a few of the Bulleids - just keep the Jarvis's which have proved to be much better locos

 

Opinions vary - I know many people who refer to the Jarvis pacifics as "de-tuned".

Anyway, isn't this thread supposed to be about some rather ugly GW things?

Tom

 

Considering some of the things to roll out of Eastleigh, the Southern mob aint really in a position to comment on Asthetics *CoughQ1Cough* :behindsofa:

Anyway, I digress :focus: