GWR 4200 Class

Infobox Locomotive
powertype=Steam
name = GWR 4200 Class

|thumb
caption = Preserved 4200 Class no. 4247 on the
Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway
designer = Churchward
builder = GWR
builddate = 1910
totalproduction =
whytetype = 2-8-0T
gauge = RailGauge|56.5
leadingsize =
driversize = 4 ft 7½ in (1,410 mm)
length =
weight = 81 tons 12 cwt
fueltype = coal
fuelc

waterc

cylindercount = two outside
cylindersize = 18½ in (470 mm) x 30 in (762 mm)
firearea =
boilerpressure = 200 psi
tractiveeffort = 31,450 lbf
railroadclass= 7F| The Great Western Railway (GWR) 4200 Class is a class of 2-8-0T steam locomotives. They were designed for short-haul coal trips from coal mines to ports in South Wales. The principle role of the class was working the 1000+ ton coal trains up through the Welsh valleys. A job which needed much tractive effort, due to train weights and gradients, and good steaming capabilities. The large boiler was enabled into the design due to the narrow side tanks; these engines would pass numerous water stops along their routes so it was never a worry, because of the class’s heavy water consumption and limited tank capacity they were nicknamed “Water Carts”. The later 5205 Class were very similar. Some were rebuilt in the form of 2-8-2T of the 7200 Class.Five have been preserved, nos 4247, 4248, 4253, 4270 and 4277.

Preservation

All five engines were rescued from Barry Scrapyard with 4247 leaving the yard in Apr 1985, 4253 leaving in Aug 1987, 4248 leaving in May 1986, 4270 leaving in July 1985 and 4277 leaving the yard in June 1986.
*4247 is currently on the Bodmin and Wenford Railway
*4248 is on static display at Swindon Steam Railway Museum dismantled as if a locomotive 'in the works'.
*4253 is awaiting restoration on the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway
*4270 is under restoration at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway
*4277 is on the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway

ources

* Ian Allan ABC of British Railways Locomotives, winter 1957/8 edition, part 1, pp 20-21