GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Knowle & Dorridge Station: gwrkd120

View of the GWR's founding member of the Star class, No 4000 'North Star' at the head of Paddington to Birmingham Snow Hill two-hour express near Knowle and Dorridge in September 1926. The prototype four cylinder 'Star' locomotive was built in May 1906 with experience learned from the 'Saint' class and the French 'De Glehn' engines. By incorporating the 'De Glehn' cylinder arrangement with two sets of valve gear into an otherwise standard design, George Churchward produced a masterpiece which harmonised the best features of the different engines on trial.

As GWR No 40, she was built in 4-4-2 configuration as Churchward had not decided which was the best wheel arrangement for the Great Western. With cylinders of 14¼ x 26 inches and an unusual scissors valve gear (Walschaert's valve gear was fitted as standard on all other 'Star' locomotives), she ran unnamed until October 1906 when she became known as 'North Star'. Number 40 was rebuilt in configuration 4-6-0 in November 1909 and was also given the curved framing that was built on the second batch of production engines. In December 1912, 'North Star' was renumbered as 4000. One difference with 'North Star' compared to the rest of the 'Star' class was that the footplate was built 2½ inches higher and even when this engine was rebuilt in a 'Castle' class locomotive, the footplate kept this non-standard height. Courtesy of Great Western Archive.

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