GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

Wood End Platform: gwrwe2852

GWR 0-6-0ST 645 class No 766 approaches Wood End Platform with a local service to Moor St, Birmingham, made up of four-wheel close coupled coaching stock. Locomotive No 766 was part of the third batch (Lot Q) of the 645 class built in 1873 by the GWR. Designed by George Armstrong and built at the GWR's Wolverhampton works, a total of thirty-six were constructed between 1872-3, of which three were built for the South Wales Mineral Railway (SWMR), two for the Carmarthen and Cardigan Railway (C&CR) with the balance being allocated to the GWR. In essence they were saddle tank versions of his GWR 633 Class of 1871. From 1878 a further seventy-two members of the class were built to a modified design being partially enlarged. They were added in the 1501 numbering sequence. Unlike the originals, the 1501's had full-length saddle tanks from the outset. When first built members of the initial class had 4' 6" driving wheels, which were later uprated to 4' 7½" by having thicker tyres applied, and fitted with 16", 16½" or 17" x 24" cylinders. The addition of half-cabs occurred a few years after construction. From 1918 all but eight of the class were rebuilt with Belpaire fireboxes and larger, pannier tanks extending over the smokebox, with the 17" diameter cylinders becoming standard.

Photographer Henry L Salmon

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