GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Bentley Heath Crossing: gwrbh2628

Great Western Railway 2-6-2T 45xx class small prairie locomotive (probably No 4579) on south bound local passenger service near Bentley Heath crossing, circa 1929. The locomotive is working bunker first with a four car Birmingham suburban set strengthened by three clerestory coaches.

Locomotive No 4579 was built in February 1927 at Swindon Works as part of lot 242. The first locomotives of this class were built in Wolverhampton in 1906. They were originally given 21xx prefix numbers, but these became 45xx prefix numbers in December 1912. Over the years the design was improved; given superheated boilers, lengthened back frames to support larger bunkers, curved drop front frames and outside steam pipes. Lot 242 introduced the larger 1,300 gallon side tanks with a sloping top to maintain visibility and due to the weight increase these and subsequent lots were sometimes referred to as the 4575 class. Later alterations included; sliding side shutters from 1931, recessed fenders for the lamp iron on top of the bunker and the majority were also fitted with automatic train control (ATC). The 45xx locomotives had a tractive effort at 85% of 21,250 lb (power group - C) and their maximum axle weight was 15tons, 11cwt (route colour – Yellow) allowing them to operate on all main lines and most branch lines. See 'misc_equip195' for more details of the Great Western Railway Engine Map classification system. No 4579 was initially allocated to Tyseley shed (TYS) and by 1930 there were sixteen 45xx class locomotives allocated there and operating local passenger duties. In the mid 1930’s the 45xx class locomotives were gradually displaced by the more powerful larger prairies (51xx class) and by 1938, No 4579 had been allocated to Whitland shed (WTD) for work on the Cardigan and Pembroke branch lines. The locomotive was eventually withdrawn from Whitland shed in September 1958.

Behind the locomotive the first four coaches are believed to be Birmingham suburban B set No 23, comprising two diagram E125 composite coaches sandwiched between a pair of diagram D91 brake third coaches. The term ‘B set’ was used later in other parts of the Great Western system to refer to a pair of close coupled brake composite coaches, but in the Birmingham Division it referred to these four coach suburban sets. Forty-eight coaches of each diagram (D91 and E125) were built at Swindon Works in April 1925 under lots 1335 and 1336 respectively. Below are the running numbers of the seven four coach B Sets, which were allocated to Birmingham. See 'gwrms1787' for more details.

This photograph is displayed courtesy of the HMRS (Historical Model Railway Society) and copies can be ordered directly from them using the link HERE, quoting reference AEV000.

Robert Ferris

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