GWR 111 The Great Bear
Encyclopedia
The Great Bear, number 111, was a locomotive of the Great Western Railway
. It was the first 4-6-2
Pacific locomotive used on a railway in Great Britain, and the only one of that type ever built by the GWR.
in 1923.
In service The Great Bear was not a significant improvement on existing classes, and had a highly restrictive route availability; its 20t 9cwt axle load limiting it to the Paddington to Bristol
main line, although it was once recorded to have travelled as far west as Newton Abbot. Its regular engine driver was Thomas Blackall, originally from Aston Tirrold
, Oxfordshire.
The GWR did not pursue the Pacific wheel arrangement, and subsequently stayed with the 4-6-0
arrangement which later became synonymous with the company. Churchward's successor Charles Collett
is reputed not to have liked the loco, and is alleged to have prepared the report presented to the GWR's locomotive committee recommending its rebuilding. No.111 was rebuilt in 1924, as a 4-6-0 in the Castle Class
, and given the name Viscount Churchill
although it retained its number. No. 111 was withdrawn in July 1953.
Churchward
was disappointed to hear of The Great Bears destruction, and upon hearing of Nigel Gresley
's plans to construct a pacific for the Great Northern Railway
, is said to have replied: "What did that young man want to build it for? We could have sold him ours!"
The GWR route availability colour code of The Great Bear was Red, and although the tractive effort of 27800 lbf (123,660.6 N) fell within the range for power classification "D", its GWR power classification was "Special" (denoted by a black + on the red disc).
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
. It was the first 4-6-2
4-6-2
4-6-2, in the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle .These locomotives are also known as Pacifics...
Pacific locomotive used on a railway in Great Britain, and the only one of that type ever built by the GWR.
History and operation
The Great Bear was built in 1908 to satisfy demands from the directors for the largest locomotive in Britain, and much was made of the locomotive by the GWR's publicity department. She was considered the company's flagship locomotive until the building of 4073 Caerphilly CastleGWR 4073 Class
The GWR 4073 Class or Castle class locomotives are a group of 4-6-0 steam locomotives of the Great Western Railway. They were originally designed by the railway's Chief Mechanical Engineer, Charles Collett, for working the company's express passenger trains.-History:A development of the earlier...
in 1923.
In service The Great Bear was not a significant improvement on existing classes, and had a highly restrictive route availability; its 20t 9cwt axle load limiting it to the Paddington to Bristol
Great Western Main Line
The Great Western Main Line is a main line railway in Great Britain that runs westwards from London Paddington station to the west of England and South Wales. The core Great Western Main Line runs from London Paddington to Temple Meads railway station in Bristol. A major branch of the Great...
main line, although it was once recorded to have travelled as far west as Newton Abbot. Its regular engine driver was Thomas Blackall, originally from Aston Tirrold
Aston Tirrold
Aston Tirrold is a village and civil parish at the foot of the Berkshire Downs about southeast of Didcot. It was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred it to Oxfordshire.-Origin of the name:...
, Oxfordshire.
The GWR did not pursue the Pacific wheel arrangement, and subsequently stayed with the 4-6-0
4-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles in a leading truck, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels. This wheel arrangement became the second-most popular...
arrangement which later became synonymous with the company. Churchward's successor Charles Collett
Charles Collett
Charles Benjamin Collett was chief mechanical engineer of the Great Western Railway from 1922 to 1941. He designed the GWR's 4-6-0 Castle and King Class express passenger locomotives.-Career:...
is reputed not to have liked the loco, and is alleged to have prepared the report presented to the GWR's locomotive committee recommending its rebuilding. No.111 was rebuilt in 1924, as a 4-6-0 in the Castle Class
GWR 4073 Class
The GWR 4073 Class or Castle class locomotives are a group of 4-6-0 steam locomotives of the Great Western Railway. They were originally designed by the railway's Chief Mechanical Engineer, Charles Collett, for working the company's express passenger trains.-History:A development of the earlier...
, and given the name Viscount Churchill
Viscount Churchill
Viscount Churchill, of Rolleston in the County of Leicester, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1902 for the Conservative politician Victor Spencer, 3rd Baron Churchill...
although it retained its number. No. 111 was withdrawn in July 1953.
Churchward
George Jackson Churchward
George Jackson Churchward CBE was Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Great Western Railway in the United Kingdom from 1902 to 1922.-Early career:...
was disappointed to hear of The Great Bears destruction, and upon hearing of Nigel Gresley
Nigel Gresley
Sir Herbert Nigel Gresley was one of Britain's most famous steam locomotive engineers, who rose to become Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London and North Eastern Railway . He was the designer of some of the most famous steam locomotives in Britain, including the LNER Class A1 and LNER Class A4...
's plans to construct a pacific for the Great Northern Railway
Great Northern Railway (Great Britain)
The Great Northern Railway was a British railway company established by the Great Northern Railway Act of 1846. On 1 January 1923 the company lost its identity as a constituent of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway....
, is said to have replied: "What did that young man want to build it for? We could have sold him ours!"
The GWR route availability colour code of The Great Bear was Red, and although the tractive effort of 27800 lbf (123,660.6 N) fell within the range for power classification "D", its GWR power classification was "Special" (denoted by a black + on the red disc).