Western King

Although the Great Western had been the first railway in Britain to use the Pacific-type locomotive, with the 'Great Bear' of 1908, no further examples were ever built and all express passenger work was left in the hands of 4-6-0 designs.

To cope with heavier loads than could comfortably be worked by the ' Castle' class engines, Collett designed in 1927 an even larger 4-6-0 with four 16 in. x 28 in. cylinders, 6 ft. 6 in. wheels and boiler pressure raised to 250 Ib.

Tractive effort was 40,300 lb., an increase of 27 per cent, on that of the ' Castles,' and this was never exceeded by any 4-6-0 in Europe.

No. 6000 ' King George V ' appeared in July 1927 and was immediately shipped to America to take part in the Centenary celebrations of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, later running on exhibition over many other American railways.

Thirty of the class were built, all named after British monarchs; due to their very high axle loading of almost twenty-three tons they were restricted to the Bristol, Birmingham and Plymouth main lines.

Their performances have included hauling 800-ton trains and frequently a speed of 100 m.p.h. was reached in normal service.

In 1955 double blast pipes and chimneys were fitted, as seen here on 'King Charles II.'

Since the advent of diesel traction on the Western Region all of the class were withdrawn, but one was scheduled for museum preservation.