Four-coupled Tank Locomotive Classes Absorbed by the Great Western Railway

This comprehensive history details the four-coupled tank engines integrated into the Great Western Railway, featuring illustrations, weight diagrams, and photographs of various locomotives from multiple absorbed companies.

Four-coupled Tank Locomotive Classes Absorbed by the Great Western Railway offers an in-depth exploration of the four-coupled tank engines that became part of the Great Western Railway (GWR). The book is particularly valuable for modellers interested in recreating GWR scenes from the pre-Grouping era and the time leading up to the Second World War. With detailed illustrations, weight diagrams, and a variety of photographs, it serves as an essential resource for enthusiasts and historians alike.

The narrative covers the integration of locomotives from nine Broad Gauge companies and nineteen Standard Gauge companies, primarily located in the South West, that were absorbed into the GWR between the 1870s and 1914. Additionally, it discusses the incorporation of eighteen more companies in South Wales during the early 1920s, coinciding with the formation of the Big Four Grouping. This historical context provides readers with a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of these tank engines within the GWR framework.

The book features an impressive array of locomotives, ranging from the 4-4-0 Broad Gauge saddle tanks of the South Devon and Bristol & Exeter Railways to the larger 4-4-4 tank locomotives of the Midland & South Western Junction Railway. It also highlights the diverse 0-4-0 pug saddle tanks from the Swansea Harbour Trust and Powlesland & Mason company. With nearly 200 photographs, including many of rare and exotic locomotives, this volume is a treasure trove for anyone interested in the rich history of the GWR's tank locomotive classes.