GWR 6400 Class
Encyclopedia
The Great Western Railway
(GWR) 6400 Class is a class of 0-6-0
pannier tank steam locomotive
introduced by Charles Collett
in 1932. All 40 examples were 'auto-fitted' – equipped with the remote-control equipment needed for working autotrains.
The 1936 GWR 7400 Class was very similar but had no push-pull
(autotrain) apparatus, but did have a higher boiler pressure of 180 psi providing a small but useful increase in power. An initial build of 30 in 1936-1937 was added to by British Railways in two batches each of ten locos in 1948 and 1950. These were destined for a short life, the briefest being only nine years. A minor visual difference between the 64xx and 74xx classes was the join between the bunker and cab side. The 64xx had an arc whereas the later class was at right angles.
Both classes were closely related to the 1930 GWR 5400 Class
and in turn an evolution of both the Armstrong
1874 GWR 850 Class and the Dean 1891 GWR 2021 Class
. Thus the basic design was almost sixty years old when new, the 4' 7½" driving wheel
s being the main distinguishing factor, apart from the more modern profile. There were also superficial similarities with the GWR 645 Class
as extant in the 1930's that also had 4' 7½" wheels and 24" stroke cylinders (and by then pannier tanks and full cabs). Strictly speaking this class was from the "larger" group of tank engines with longer wheel bases and 17" or 17½" diameter cylinders that eventually evolved into the 94xx
of 1947.
valleys.
Engines of class 6400 worked on many of the ex-GWR branch lines in Devon
and Cornwall
until the early 1960s, when the lines closed or diesel multiple unit
s took over services. Number 6430 was a regular engine on the old Tavistock South branch line and would often run with two autocoaches
. No. 6412 was based at Gloucester loco shed and operated the last 'Chalford Shuttle' autotrain service between Gloucester and Chalford in 1962.
, which was filmed on the West Somerset Railway where the preserved locomotive was based. (No. 6412 was relocated to the South Devon Railway in 2009.)
General
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...
(GWR) 6400 Class is a class of 0-6-0
0-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...
pannier tank steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
introduced by 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:...
in 1932. All 40 examples were 'auto-fitted' – equipped with the remote-control equipment needed for working autotrains.
The 1936 GWR 7400 Class was very similar but had no push-pull
Push-pull
Push–pull may refer to:In electronic technology:*Push–pull output, type of electronic circuit*Push–pull converter, in electronics, is a type of DC to DC converter that uses a transformer*Push–pull connector, an electronic cable connector...
(autotrain) apparatus, but did have a higher boiler pressure of 180 psi providing a small but useful increase in power. An initial build of 30 in 1936-1937 was added to by British Railways in two batches each of ten locos in 1948 and 1950. These were destined for a short life, the briefest being only nine years. A minor visual difference between the 64xx and 74xx classes was the join between the bunker and cab side. The 64xx had an arc whereas the later class was at right angles.
Both classes were closely related to the 1930 GWR 5400 Class
GWR 5400 Class
The Great Western Railway 5400 Class is a class of 0-6-0 pannier tank steam locomotive. They were similar in appearance to many other GWR tank engines but smaller than the ubiquitous GWR 5700 Class....
and in turn an evolution of both the Armstrong
Joseph Armstrong (engineer)
Joseph Armstrong was a British locomotive engineer and the second locomotive superintendent of the Great Western Railway...
1874 GWR 850 Class and the Dean 1891 GWR 2021 Class
GWR 2021 Class
The GWR 2021 Class was a class of 140 0-6-0 saddle tank steam locomotives. They were built at the Wolverhampton railway works of the Great Western Railway between 1897 and 1905...
. Thus the basic design was almost sixty years old when new, the 4' 7½" driving wheel
Driving wheel
On a steam locomotive, a driving wheel is a powered wheel which is driven by the locomotive's pistons...
s being the main distinguishing factor, apart from the more modern profile. There were also superficial similarities with the GWR 645 Class
GWR 645 Class
The GWR 645 Class was a class of 0-6-0 saddle tank locomotives designed by George Armstrong and built at the Wolverhampton railway works of the Great Western Railway . Thirty-six were constructed between 1872-3, of which three were built for the South Wales Mineral Railway , two for the Carmarthen...
as extant in the 1930's that also had 4' 7½" wheels and 24" stroke cylinders (and by then pannier tanks and full cabs). Strictly speaking this class was from the "larger" group of tank engines with longer wheel bases and 17" or 17½" diameter cylinders that eventually evolved into the 94xx
GWR 9400 Class
The Great Western Railway 9400 Class is a class of 0-6-0 pannier tank steam locomotive, used for shunting and banking duties.The first ten 9400s were the last steam engines built by the GWR. After nationalisation in 1948, another 200 were built by private contractors for British Railways...
of 1947.
Operations
The smaller wheels of the 64xx's permitted operation in hillier locations than the 5400 Class and allocations were initially to the South WalesSouth Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
valleys.
Engines of class 6400 worked on many of the ex-GWR branch lines in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
and Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
until the early 1960s, when the lines closed or diesel multiple unit
Diesel multiple unit
A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
s took over services. Number 6430 was a regular engine on the old Tavistock South branch line and would often run with two autocoaches
GWR Autocoach
The GWR Autocoach is a type of coach that was used by the Great Western Railway for push-pull trains powered by a steam locomotive. The distinguishing design feature of an autocoach is the driving cab at one end, allowing the driver to control the train without needing to be located in the cab of...
. No. 6412 was based at Gloucester loco shed and operated the last 'Chalford Shuttle' autotrain service between Gloucester and Chalford in 1962.
Numbering
There were 40 locomotives in the 6400 Class, numbered 6400-6439 and 50 locomotives in the 7400 Class, numbered 7400-7449Preservation
Three of the 6400 Class have survived to preservation:- 6412 South Devon RailwaySouth Devon Railway TrustThe South Devon Railway Trust is a charitable organisation that operates a heritage railway from Totnes to Buckfastleigh in Devon, alongside the River Dart...
– star of The Flockton FlyerThe Flockton FlyerThe Flockton Flyer was a children's TV series made by Southern TV for the ITV network. There were two series, each of six episodes. Series 1 was first transmitted in spring, 1977 and Series 2 followed in early 1978. Programmes were shown at 4.45 pm on Monday afternoons... - 6430 Llangollen RailwayLlangollen RailwayThe Llangollen Railway is a volunteer-run preserved railway in Denbighshire, Wales, which operates between Llangollen and Carrog; at long, it is the longest preserved standard gauge line in Wales and operates daily in Summer as well as weekends throughout the Winter months using a wide variety of...
- 6435 Bodmin and Wenford RailwayBodmin and Wenford RailwayThe Bodmin & Wenford Railway is a heritage railway, based at Bodmin in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It has an interchange with the national rail network at Bodmin Parkway railway station, the southern terminus of the line.-History:...
In fiction
A 64xx Class loco (no. 6412) was the title character of the British 1970s TV series The Flockton FlyerThe Flockton Flyer
The Flockton Flyer was a children's TV series made by Southern TV for the ITV network. There were two series, each of six episodes. Series 1 was first transmitted in spring, 1977 and Series 2 followed in early 1978. Programmes were shown at 4.45 pm on Monday afternoons...
, which was filmed on the West Somerset Railway where the preserved locomotive was based. (No. 6412 was relocated to the South Devon Railway in 2009.)
See also
- GWR 0-6-0PT – list of classes of GWR 0-6-0 pannier tank, including table of preserved locomotives
External links
6400 ClassGeneral