Great Western Railway (GWR) fans, in particular, Churchward fans, will enjoy reading this week’s project information, with the focus on Churchward’s last design, the 47XXs 2-8-0 class, while chief mechanical engineer (CME) of the GWR. Looking into the design, construction, operation and the withdrawal of the class first, we then move onto the history of the Great Western Society 47XX Project then the progress on 4709.

History of the 47XX Class

In 1911, Churchward introduced his 43XX for mixed traffic duties across the GWR network. After War World 1 had ended, the traffic department highlighted that on some duties, the 43XX weren’t suitable, with something larger with more power was needed.

Taking into account the features from both 43XX and Saint classes which were desirable in the new design, a 2-8-0 with 5ft 8in wheels and the Swindon No.1 Boiler was drawn up. When in the designing stage, Churchward knew the Swindon No.1 Boiler would be too small for the engine, but no other current boiler design was appropriate. The decision was made to build a prototype, with the No.1 boiler until a new boiler design was completed.

The prototype locomotive was number 4700 and was completed at Swindon works in 1919. The Swindon No.1 Boiler, as known at the designing stage, restricted the output 4700 could produce, leading to the engine not being as useful as anticipated. Two years after completion, in May 1921, 4700 received a new Boiler, the Swindon No.7 Boiler, designed specifically for use on 4700 and any further members of the class.

Once fitted with the Swindon No.7 Boiler, the performance of 4700 improved. Satisfied with the improved 4700, Churchward placed an order for a further 8 engines, with the No.7 boiler and slight changes to 4700’s design. Between placing the order in 1921, and the first member of the batch No. 4701 appearing, Churchward had retired as CME, with Collett succeeding him. This didn’t affect the order, and all 8 (4701-4708) were completed by 1923.

Performance in Service

By design, the class was successful, not suffering from any major problems. The main limiting factor of the class was their heavy axle loading (red), which excluded them from many routes. Taking this into consideration, the class were employed on hauling fast overnight freight trains.

These duties would start from London and head out to destinations such as Newton Abbot, Exeter, Plymouth, Bristol, Birmingham, and Wolverhampton. As this work was carried out at night, the class was kept out of the public eye in the daytime, being on shed, ready to start work in the evenings. Due to hauling these trains, they gained the nickname of ‘Night Owls’.

Change of work and decline

Under Collett’s reign of CME at the GWR, classes such as 49XX “Halls” and 68XX “Granges” were built. The Granges were the locomotive the traffic department required when they requested a class bigger than the 43XXs after World War 1, with the 47XXs being built instead.

With the introduction of these classes, the 47XX found themselves being employed on more express passenger trains, heavy Summer ones in particular with the “Castles” and “Kings”, with all engines being fully utilised. The 47XXs hauled these heavy trains very well. In the late 1950s, due to the number of passenger trains they hauled, the class received full passenger liveries, including full-lining out, which they carried until withdrawn.

Withdrawals started relatively early for the class, starting with 4702 in June 1962. None of the class lasted until the end of Western Region steam, with the last members of the class being withdrawn by May 1964. Despite all members of the class reaching roughly 40 years of age, they never achieved high mileage due to the limited number of routes they could work over. The highest mileage achieve was by 4705 with 1,656,564 miles. Unfortunately, none of the class were preserved.

History and Aims of the Great Western Society 47XX Project

The project to build 4709 really took off when an agreement was made between Glamorgan Council and the Great Western Society (GWS). This agreement saw the GWS acquire three engines, these being GWR 28XX Class No. 2861, GWR 5101 Class No. 4115 and GWR 5205 Class No. 5227.

This has allowed the project obtain a large number of important parts to build 4709 with. From 2861 the cylinder blocks and a few other parts, from 4115 all 3 sets of driving wheels and frame extension and from 5227 the axleboxes, horns and other various parts will be used. Any parts the project can’t use but are usable, will be used in other projects. For instance, 4115’s Boiler might be used in 56XX Class No. 6634’s restoration.

With the use of parts listed above and parts built from new, the project’s Aim is to build 4709, following to the original designs of the 47XX where possible. The project is being completed by a supporting group of the GWS and is based at the Llangollen Railway, where various other new build projects are taking place.

Progress completed to date on 4709

Good progress has been made on building 4709, with the cylinders attached to the frame at the Llangollen Railway, and the wheels undergoing the final work required at South Devon Railway (SDR).

All three donor locomotives have been stripped of components which the project will use to build 4709. 2017 has seen major progress being completed on the 4 sets of driving wheels and the leading set of wheels. One wheel set has been made from scratch.

At Llangollen, work has been carried out to hopefully put the frame straight onto the wheels once returned from the  SDR. This would save storage space and make the frame movable. Before the frame can be placed on its wheels, parts such as the axleboxes and horn blocks will need to be fitted. All horn blocks are aimed to be fitted by the end of February. The frame has also received a coat of primer from the LMS-Patriot Project’s painting team, which makes the appearance of the locomotive a bit smarter.

I’m afraid it’s come to the end of this week’s Project Information. As always, the next Project in the series will be out next Friday, but with a slight difference. Next week we will be looking at a narrow gauge locomotive.

• Visit the Great Western Society 47XX Project website
  For more information