The GWR 5101 Class or 'Large Prairie' is a class of 2-6-2T steam locomotives of the Great Western Railway.

GWR 5101 Class
5164 at Totnes in 1958
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerCharles Collett
BuilderGWR Swindon Works
Order numberLots 257, 259, 284, 292, 313, 323, 335, 361, 369
Build date1929–1949
Total produced140
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte2-6-2T
 • UIC1′C1′ h2t
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.3 ft 2 in (0.965 m)
Driver dia.5 ft 8 in (1.727 m)
Trailing dia.3 ft 8 in (1.118 m)
Length41 ft (12.50 m)
Loco weight78.45 long tons (79.71 t; 87.86 short tons)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity4 long tons (4.1 t; 4.5 short tons)
Water cap.2,000 imp gal (9,100 L; 2,400 US gal)
Firebox:
 • Grate area20.35 sq ft (1.891 m2)
BoilerGWR Number 2
Boiler pressure200 psi (1,400 kPa)
Heating surface:
 • Firebox121.8 sq ft (11.32 m2)
 • Tubes and flues1,144.94 sq ft (106.368 m2)
Superheater:
 • Heating area82.2 sq ft (7.64 m2)
CylindersTwo
Cylinder size18 in × 30 in (457 mm × 762 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort24,300 lbf (108 kN)
Career
Operators
ClassGWR 5101
Power classGWR D
BR 4MT
Numbers5101–5199, 4100–4179
Axle load classGWR Blue
LocaleWestern Region
WithdrawnApril 1956 – November 1965
Disposition8 preserved, 1 used for spares, 1 rebuilt into tender engine; remainder scrapped

History edit

 
5101 Class member 4176 banks a mixed-freight train up the bank towards Dainton tunnel, from Newton Abbot towards Plymouth on the Exeter to Plymouth Line in South Devon, 1961

The 5101 Class were medium-sized tank engines used for suburban and local passenger services all over the Great Western Railway system. The class was an updated version, by Collett, of Churchward's 1903 3100/5100 Class.

The original 40 members of the 3100 class were renumbered 5100 and 5111 to 5149 in 1927. The first batches of 5101s filled in the numbers 5101 to 5110 and extended the class from 5150 to 5189. They were little changed from the Churchward locomotives as they then were, but had an increased axle loading of 17 long tons 12 cwt (39,400 lb or 17.9 t); the maximum permitted for the ‘Blue’ route availability. Bunkers were of the standard Collett design with greater coal capacity. The 5100 number series was exhausted in 1934, and further new locomotives were numbered from 4100. The last 20 were built after nationalisation.[1]


As both freight and passenger traffic on branch lines declined post-World War II with increasing volumes of private motor cars, and replacement on urban services by diesel-powered rail cars, the bulk of the class found itself allocated to various mainline support duties, mainly banking and piloting, often on the South Devon Banks on the Exeter to Plymouth Line, or around the Severn Tunnel on the South Wales Main Line.

A number of the class - 4110, 4115, 4121, 4144, 4150, 4156 and 4160 - ended their operational lives allocated to the major locomotive shed (88E) at Severn Tunnel Junction, undertaking piloting and banking duties through both the Severn Tunnel and the associated goods yard.[3] Assistance was needed by all heavy trains through the Severn Tunnel, which entailed: 3.5 miles (5.6 km) of 1-in-90 down to the middle of the tunnel; then a further 3.5 miles (5.6 km) at 1-in-100 up to Pilning; a short level then 3.5 miles (5.6 km) more at 1-in-100 to Patchway. However, the pilot locomotive usually came off at Pilning. Several of this group were sold for scrap to Woodham Brothers and consequently have survived into preservation.

Accidents and incidents edit

Withdrawal edit

The below list shows when all of the original 5101's and later 4100's were withdrawn from service.

Table of withdrawals
Year Quantity in
service at
start of year
Number withdrawn Quantity
withdrawn
Locomotive numbers Notes
1956 140 1 1 5159.
1957 139 5 6 5107/09/56–57/61.
1958 134 10 16 4138–39, 5105/08/60/62/65/68/71–72.
1959 124 4 20 5170/86/89/96.
1960 120 16 36 4162/64/70, 5102–04/06/10/50/55/63/69/78–79/85/97.
1961 104 11 47 4117/23, 5158/66/74–77/94–95/98.
1962 93 22 69 4102/06/12/16/18/26/29/45–46/52/63, 5151/67/73/80–83/87–88/90/93. 5193 preserved
1963 71 14 83 4114/19/27/34/40–42/49, 5101/52/54/64/92/99. 4141, 5164, 5199 preserved
1964 57 28 111 4101/03–05/08–09/20/22/24/28/30–33/35–37/43/53/59/66–67/71/73–74, 5153/84/91.
1965 29 29 140 4100/07/10–11/13/15/21/25/44/47–48/50–51/54–58/60–61/65/68–69/72/75–79. 4110, 4115, 4121, 4144, 4150, 4160 preserved

Preservation edit

Ten of the class were preserved after withdrawal in the 1960s (six built in the 1930s before World War II and four built after the war in the late 1940s, one of which under the British Railways banner). As of 2023, six have run in preservation, one is under restoration, one is still in scrapyard condition, one has acted as a donor locomotive for other projects, and one has been rebuilt into a tender engine:

Number Built Withdrawn Service Life Owner Current Location Status Livery Notes Image
5164 Nov 1930 Apr 1963 32 Years, 5 months Erlestoke Manor Fund Tyseley Locomotive Works Stored GWR Unlined Green, Great Western Lettering Normally located at the Severn Valley Railway but on static display at Barrow Hill MPD since 2014 following expiry of boiler certificate on 5 January 2014. Ownership transferred to the Erlestoke Manor Fund in 2021; as of January 2022 plans to overhaul the locomotive are underway.[6]

The engine was moved from Barrow Hill Engine Shed to Tyseley Locomotive Works for assessment in November 2023.[7]

 
5193 Oct 1934 Jun 1962 27 Years, 8 months West Somerset Railway plc West Somerset Railway Operational (Donor locomotive) BR Lined Green, Early Emblem Originally built in 1934, withdrawn in 1962 and recovered from Woodham Brothers scrapyard in 1979. Rebuilt by the West Somerset Railway into a 2-6-0 resembling a small boilered version of the GWR 4300 Class, which has been numbered 9351. Returned to service in 2019 following an overhaul.  
5199 Nov 1934 Mar 1963 28 Years, 3 months 5199 Project West Somerset Railway Operational GWR Unlined Green, Great Western Lettering Overhaul completed 23 November 2014. Repainted into GWR Green livery in 2021.[8]  
4110 Oct 1936 Jun 1965 28 Years, 8 months Dartmouth Steam Railway East Somerset Railway Operational BR Unlined Green, Late Crest Sold in May 2015 by GWR Preservation Group Limited of Southall Railway Centre to WSR plc. Sold again in January 2019 to the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway. It was sent to the East Somerset Railway in January 2020. Returned to steam in 2023  
4115 Oct 1936 Jun 1965 28 Years, 8 months Great Western Society Didcot Railway Centre Donor locomotive, frames scrapped in 2016.[9] Built October 1936, withdrawn from service in June 1965. One of the "Barry Ten", she was sold to the Great Western Society, Didcot in 2010, to act as a donor locomotive. Its frames were scrapped in 2016:[10]  
4121 Dec 1937 Jun 1965 27 Years, 6 months Tyseley Locomotive Works Unrestored, partially stripped N/A Stored at Tyseley in a partially stripped down state  
4141 Aug 1946 Mar 1963 16 Years, 7 months Roger Wright Epping Ongar Railway Awaiting completion of repairs BR Lined Green, Late Crest Returned to steam in 2012 after an overhaul, but currently out of service awaiting boiler repairs.  
4144 Sept 1946 Jun 1965 18 Years, 8 months Great Western Society Didcot Railway Centre Operational GWR Unlined Green, GWR Lettering Returned to steam in 2015 after an overhaul. Loaned to the Kent & East Sussex Railway for the 2020 season. Returned to Didcot Railway Centre before visiting other railways. At the Kent & East Sussex Railway for the Santa’s in 2021. Currently (Summer 2023) at the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway  
4150 Jun 1947 Jun 1965 17 Years, 11 months 4150 Fund Severn Valley Railway Restoration in progress N/A  
4160 Sept 1948 Jun 1965 16 Years, 8 months 4160 Ltd South Devon Railway Under Overhaul N/A Overhauled in 2007, previously operated on the West Somerset Railway. Sent to the Llangollen Railway in January 2016 for overhaul. Moved to the South Devon Railway for the completion of its overhaul, upon which it shall become a resident of the line under the custodianship of 5542 Ltd.[11]  

Models edit

Graham Farish manufacture a model of the Large Prairie in N scale. Hornby have manufactured two models of the class in 00 gauge in both Great Western and British railway liveries; the first was based on a 1980's Airfix model of the engine, the second was a 2020 re-tooled model with a 5 pole motor. Dapol have a 00 gauge model due for release in q4 2021; this has both GWR and BR livery versions planned. Heljan are planning on producing a model of the large prairie in O gauge in 2017.[12] Sonic Models have announced they producing an N scale model, due for release in April/May. [13]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Daniel, John (13 July 2013). "5101 tank class introduction". The Great Western Archive.
  2. ^ Allcock et al. (1968), pp. 35–40.
  3. ^ "4150 History". 4150.org.uk.
  4. ^ "Light at the end of the tunnel for Severn 'Prairie'". Steam Railway (455). Peterborough: Bauer Consumer Media Ltd: 40–42. 17 June 2016. ISSN 0143-7232.
  5. ^ "Four killed and 50 injured in train crash". The Times. No. 51243. London. 1 December 1948. col A-B, p. 4.
  6. ^ "Announcement: EMF Shareholders approve proposal to restore 5164 to steam!". erlestokemanorfund.co.uk. 17 January 2022.. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  7. ^ Smith, Roger (18 October 2023). "Steam locomotive 5164 to be displayed". RailAdvent. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  8. ^ Holden, Michael (26 May 2021). "GWR steam locomotive 5199 set for new repaint and new livery". RailAdvent. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  9. ^ "4115". Preserved British Steam Locomotives. WordPress.com. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  10. ^ "Frames Ordered for New GWR 47xx Class as Prairie Survivor is Dismantled". rail.co.uk. 8 March 2012.
  11. ^ Holden, Michael (8 October 2020). "Steam locomotive 4160 arrives at the South Devon Railway". Rail Advent. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  12. ^ "First painted 'O' gauge 'Prairie'". 21 November 2016. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018.
  13. ^ "Sonic Models announce N Gauge 61XX Large Prairie". 28 July 2022.
  • Allcock, N. J.; Davies, F. K.; le Fleming, H. M.; Maskelyne, J. N.; Reed, P. J. T.; Tabor, F. J. (1968) [1951]. White, D. E. (ed.). The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, part one: Preliminary Survey. Kenilworth: RCTS.

External links edit