GWR 5600 Class

The GWR 5600 Class is a class of 0-6-2T steam locomotive. built between 1924 and 1928.

Overview

The 5600 Class 0-6-2 tank engines were designed by C.B Collett for the Great Western Railway (GWR), and were introduced into traffic in 1924. In reality, they were a "westernised" version of the Rhymney Railway M class and R class, rather than a truly new design.

The 1904 M class (and the similar 1909 R class) were successful designs ideally suited to hauling heavy coal trains a relatively short distance. The first of five R class locos was reboilered by GWR in 1926 and a single M class was upgraded in 1930. In this form, both were visually almost indistinguishable from the 56xx.Thus the 56xx's were specially designed for work in South Wales, replacing the elderly, worn out locomotives that had been 'inherited' in 1923, when the smaller railway companies were forcibly merged into GWR. Contrary to this trend, the Rhymney Railway's more modern 0-6-2's were in generally good order and had proved successful. Thus they became the blueprint for the 56xx.

The design of the Class 56xx followed Great Western Railway practice as far as possible, by utilising many standardized parts. Included in Collett’s innovations was a standard number 2 boiler which was suitable for the 5600 (and the M and R class Rhymney locomotives), complete with the traditional copper GWR safety valve casing and copper-capped chimney.

The 5600 class locos had the distinction of being the only locomotive of 0-6-2 wheel arrangement built new by GWR. Nevertheless, there were just over 400 of the type in service from 1940-1945, demonstrating the large number acquired in 1923.

They were substantial sized tank engines, and weighed 62 tons and 37ft 6ins in length. The side tanks were capable of holding 1900 gallons of water. The high domed cab, bunker and tanks were closely related to the 31xx and 42xx classes.One hundred of the class were built at the GWR workshops in Swindon from 1924-1927. In 1927 another 100 similar engines were constructed – these were slightly heavier and numbered in the 66xx series. Nos 6600-6649 were Swindon-built in 1927-1928, but due to the pressure of work 6650-6699 were built by Armstrong Whitworth in 1928. This resulted in some minor design differences. A fall in the South Wales coal trade in the 1930s saw many of the class re-allocated to other parts of the system.

All the 56xx/66xx locomotives passed into nationalisation in 1948, and all remained in service with British Railways until 1962, at which time they were withdrawn from service quite rapidly, with the onset of diesel traction on BR gaining momentum. All had been retired by 1965.

Preservation

Several ended up in Woodham's Scrapyard in Barry, and eight of the nine preserved engines were saved from Barry. Preserved are the following:

Dimensions

* BR Power classification, 5MT
* Locomotive weight:
** 5600 Class, 68 tons 12 cwt
** 6600 Class, 69 tons 7 cwt
* Boiler pressure, 200 psi
* Superheater, Yes
* Cylinders, 18"x26"
* Driving wheel diameter, 4' 7½"
* Tractive effort, 25,800 lb
* Valve gear, Stephenson (piston valves)

For terminology, see Steam locomotive components

Welsh 0-6-2T types

The railways of South Wales seem to have had a particular liking for the 0-6-2T type. This was because the nature of the work they undertook demanded high adhesive weight, plenty of power with good braking ability, but no need for outright speed, nor large tanks or bunker as the distances from pit to port were short. These Welsh locomotives were taken over by the GWR at the grouping in 1923 and some were rebuilt with GWR taper boilers. A number of them passed into British Railways (BR) ownership in 1948, including (with some gaps in numbering):

* Brecon and Merthyr Railway, BR numbers 431-436
* Cardiff Railway, BR number 155
* Rhymney Railway, BR numbers 35-83
* Taff Vale Railway, BR numbers 204-399

For further information on these pre-grouping locomotives see Locomotives of the Great Western Railway.

External links

* http://www.greatwestern.org.uk/m_in_062.htm
* [http://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/56proj.shtml Telford Steam Railway 5619 project]
* [http://www.furnessrailwaytrust.org.uk/other5643.htm 5643]
* [http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/6695/ 6695]