GWR 2721 Class

The GWR 2721 Class was a class of 0-6-0 saddle tank steam locomotives. They were designed by William Dean and built at the Swindon Works of the Great Western Railway between 1897 and 1901.

GWR 2721 Class
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer William Dean Builder GWR Swindon Works Order number 112, 115, 122, 129 Serial number 1662-1681, 1703-1722, 1776-1795, 1887-1906 Build date 1897-1901 Total produced 80
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-6-0ST Gauge 4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Driver dia. 4 ft 7 ^1⁄2 in (1.410 m) Wheelbase 15 ft 6 in (4.724 m) Fuel type Coal Cylinders Two, inside Cylinder size 17 in × 24 in (432 mm × 610 mm), 17.5 in × 24 in (444 mm × 610 mm)
Career Power class A Number in class 80 Numbers 2721-2800 (2700, 2721-2799 from 1912) Axle load class Yellow or Blue Delivered November 1897-March 1901 Withdrawn October 1945-November 1950

Design

They were not a new design, being a straightforward development of the 120-strong 1854 Class dating back to 1890. This lineage had begun with George Armstrong's 645 Class in 1872 and continued via the 1813 Class (in 1882), the 1854 Class, and finally ended in 1948 with the GWR 9400 Class. The differences over 76 years were undeniably a gradual evolution, with increases in boiler pressure and heating surface the more important, enclosed cabs and larger bunkers cosmetic but functional. The biggest change was the fitting of a Belpaire firebox necessitating a pair of pannier tanks, as the square-topped firebox is not compatible with a curved saddle tank. Highlighting the gradual nature of the changes are the subtle differences between the 1854 and 2721 classes, confined to a small increase in wheel size by 1 ¹⁄₂ inches (38.1 mm), fluted rods and coil springs all round, at least then new. When later rebuilt with pannier tanks they were the direct predecessors of the GWR 5700 Class of 1929.

British Railways

Forty-three of them survived into British Railways (BR) ownership in 1948, by which time all had been rebuilt with pannier tanks. Their numbers were 2721-2800 (the last being renumbered 2700 in 1912 to make room for the pioneer 2-8-0 GWR 2800 Class). Withdrawals started in 1945 and were complete by 1950 by which time the last of the replacement 57xx's (in the 96xx series) were in service.

Models

Hornby Railways manufacture a model of the 2721 in OO gauge.

See also

• GWR 0-6-0PT – list of classes of GWR 0-6-0 pannier tank, including table of preserved locomotives