In the history of the GWR, there has been a fair few prolific chief engineers, Of all of them, possibly the most famous was Charles Collett, who's design of locomotives ranged from low speed light freight/branch line engines to mid range mixed traffic machines, and even the top link 6000 "King" Class. It wasn't all plain sailing however, as midway through designing the 4073 "Castle" Class, his wife sadly passed away, meaning he was absent from Swindon Works for a number of months.
However, his deputy at the time stepped up to the fore, and helped to produce one of the best all rounders the GWR had to offer, with enough power to handle freight and enough speed to handle express passenger traffic. A design that would later form the basis of many other designs of locomotive born under the GWR "Modernisation" period following the Churchward reign. And the name of this deputy may surprise some of you, as it was a certain Mr William A. Stanier, before his big move to the LMS in the 1930s.
Of the 171 machines produced, 8 survive, this machine being a bit of a miracle, as it was thought at one point that 5043 "Earl Of Mount Edgcumbe" would never steam again due to her poor state. But tireless hours of restoration later, and she once again turned her wheels in anger. Here she is seen passing Willington with "The Christmas White Rose" from Tyseley to York and return.
14th December 2013.
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However, his deputy at the time stepped up to the fore, and helped to produce one of the best all rounders the GWR had to offer, with enough power to handle freight and enough speed to handle express passenger traffic. A design that would later form the basis of many other designs of locomotive born under the GWR "Modernisation" period following the Churchward reign. And the name of this deputy may surprise some of you, as it was a certain Mr William A. Stanier, before his big move to the LMS in the 1930s.
Of the 171 machines produced, 8 survive, this machine being a bit of a miracle, as it was thought at one point that 5043 "Earl Of Mount Edgcumbe" would never steam again due to her poor state. But tireless hours of restoration later, and she once again turned her wheels in anger. Here she is seen passing Willington with "The Christmas White Rose" from Tyseley to York and return.
14th December 2013.
