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GWR
Pannier Tanks
The Pannier Tank has become as much a symbol of the Great Western
Railway as the 'Kings' and 'Castles'. They could be found on quiet country branchlines and working commuter trains into the
cities. They would cover freight and passenger work, whilst also being used
for shunting in sidings and freight yards. There were no less than 863
members of no. 9629's class built making it one of the most numerous types
of locos constructed in Britain.
At nationalisation in 1948 the class made up one fifth of the locos handed
over by the Great Western Railway.
The first GWR panniers were constructed at the beginning of the
twentieth century and the 57XX were an update of these earlier designs. The
first was built in 1929 and the last one was not finished until 1950 into
the British Railways era.
No. 9629 was one of the later variants of this design, sometimes
classified as the 8750 class. The main noticeable distinguishing feature
from the older members of the class was an updated and reprofiled
cab.
Withdrawals began in 1956, only a few years after the final member of
the class was built and continued over the following decade. Members of the
class were sold on for further work with organisations such as London
Transport and the National Coal Board where they continued to work into the
1970s.
16 members of the class have survived into preservation. They are:-
8750 Class
3650
3738
4612
9600
9642
9681
9682
57XX Class
5764
5775
5786
7714
7715
7752
7754
7760
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