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GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Warwick Station: gwrw372

Ex-GWR 0-6-0PT 57xx class Pannier Tank No 3624 glides through the station on the up line with a single van in tow

Ex-GWR 0-6-0PT 57xx class Pannier Tank No 3624 glides through the station on the up line with a single van in tow circa 1957. No 3624 was built at Swindon works in May 1939 as part of lot 314. The 57xx class was one of the UK's most numerous classes, totalling 863 locomotives built between 1929 and 1950 as replacements for an aging fleet of Victorian saddle and pannier 0-6-0T locomotives. With a maximum axle weight of 16tons, 15cwt they were originally restricted to main lines and some branches (route colour - Blue), but in 1950 it was decided that because of their negligible hammer blow they could also run over Yellow routes. Between the pannier water tanks which held 1,200 gallons was a Belpaire boiler operating at 200lb and producing a respectable tractive effort at 85% of 22,515lb (power group - C). For more information on the Great Western Railway Classification system (see Engine Map). Found in almost every corner of the Great Western Railway these locomotives were liked as being responsive and capable, despite frequently being grossly overloaded. No 3624 was initially allocated to Tyseley shed (TYS) and remained in service for exactly 23 years before being withdrawn in May 1962 from Neyland shed to be scrapped by J Cashmore of Newport.

The covered van has a sliding door, two part pressed steel corrugated end and planked sides suggesting an LMS origin. Three lots (2003, 2013 and 2109) totalling 2,050 ventilated 12 ton covered vans were also built at Wolverton Works in the early days of British Railways (diagram 204).

Lot No. Date Quantity Running Numbers
2003 1949 500 B751300 to B751799
2013 1949 550 B751800 to B752349
2109 1950 1000 B753430 to B754429

Robert Ferris

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