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GWR Route: Moreton-in-Marsh to Shipston-on-Stour
Moreton-in-Marsh Station: gwrmm3072
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An unidentified GWR 0-6-0ST 645 class locomotive stands at
Moreton-in-Marsh's up platform with express headlamps on the buffer. 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.
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