GWR 4900 Class


The Great Western Railway 4900 Class or Hall Class is a class of 4-6-0 mixed traffic steam locomotives designed by Charles Collett for the Great Western Railway. A total of 259 were built at Swindon Works, numbered 4900–4999, 5900–5999 and 6900–6958. The LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 and LNER Thompson Class B1 both drew heavily on design features of the Hall Class. After nationalisation in 1948, British Railways gave them the power classification 5MT.

Background

By the end of 1923 the Great Western Railway was well served with express passenger locomotives of the Saint and Star classes and had recently introduced the Castle Class. However the mixed traffic 2-6-0 locomotives of the 4300 Class were beginning to struggle with the increasing loads. George Jackson Churchward had recognised this with the introduction of the 4700 class 2-8-0 with driving wheels, intended for express goods and relief passenger trains. However, Charles Collett preferred the idea of a Saint Class with smaller wheels to undertake these duties as this would provide a leading bogie. He therefore rebuilt number 2925 Saint Martin with driving wheels.

Prototype

The prototype of the new class was rebuilt in 1924 and the cylinders were realigned in relation to the driving axle and a more modern 'Castle'-type cab was fitted. Saint Martin emerged from Swindon Works in 1924 and embarked on three years of trials. During this period Collett introduced other modifications such a changing the pitch of the taper boiler and adding outside steam pipes.

Production

After extensive trials during 1925-1927, Collett was satisfied with the performance of his prototype, subject to minor amendments and placed an order for eighty more with Swindon works in 1928. The prototype was renumbered 4900 in December 1928 and the new locomotives were numbered 4901-80 and appeared at regular intervals until February 1930. They were named after English and Welsh country houses with 'Hall' in their titles and so became known as the 'Hall Class'.
They differed little from the prototype; the bogie wheel diameter had been reduced by two inches from to and the valve setting amended to give an increased travel of. The overall weight of the locomotive had increased by to but a tractive effort of compared favourably with the of the 'Saint'. The original locomotives were built with Churchward tenders but after 4958 Collett's larger types became standard although a few later locomotives were fitted with smaller tenders if these were available as they entered service.
The first fourteen examples were despatched to the arduous proving grounds of the Cornish Main Line. They were so successful here and elsewhere on the GWR system that by the time the first production batch had been completed a further twenty were on order. Further orders followed throughout the 1930s and early 1940s. By 1935, 150 were in service and the 259th and last Hall, No. 6958 Oxburgh Hall, was delivered in 1943. Thereafter further deliveries were of the '6959 Modified Hall' class.

Performance

As indicated by their continuing production, the Hall class proved to be very successful in a variety of different roles, although barred from several cross-country and branch lines because of their red weight classification. According to Peter Herring, 'they were the first true mixed traffic locomotives, and as such precursors of the Stanier 'Black Five', Thompson B1 and BR Standard 5MT 4-6-0.'

Modified Hall Class

Although the GWR had been at the forefront of British locomotive development between 1900 and 1930, the 1930s saw a degree of complacency at Swindon reflected in the fact that the design had largely originated in the 1900s and had not fundamentally changed since the mid 1920s. Collett was replaced by Frederick Hawksworth in 1941 who created a modified version of the design, known as the Modified Hall Class. These continued to be produced by British Railways until 1950, by which time there were a further seventy-one locomotives.

Accidents and incidents

All but one of the original Collett Halls survived until nationalisation in 1948, the exception being 4911 Bowden Hall. Withdrawals began in 1959 with the prototype Saint Martin. Its accumulated mileage, both in its original form and rebuilt form, was a remarkable 2,092,500 miles. Further withdrawals of the production series took place during the 1960s and the class was extinct by 1965.

Preservation

By 1965 the last Hall had been withdrawn from the Western Region without a single one entering the National Collection. Eleven examples of the Hall class have survived to preservation with all being rescued from Barry Island Scrapyard, seven of which have run in preservation. Of the engines which haven't yet operated in preservation, 4942 Maindy Hall has been "regressed" back to a GWR Saint Class, 4979 Wootton Hall is undergoing restoration at the Ribble Steam Railway with work currently focusing on the engine's tender, 5952 Cogan Hall is awaiting restoration at the Llangollen Railway with a small number of parts being used in the construction of 6880 Betton Grange and 5967 Bickmarsh Hall is undergoing restoration at the Northampton & Lamport Railway.
Of the remaining seven halls which have run in preservation, six have been operated on the main line: 4930 Hagley Hall, 4936 Kinlet Hall, 4953 Pitchford Hall, 4965 Rood Ashton Hall, 5900 Hinderton Hall and 5972 Olton Hall. 5972 Olton Hall has gained fame as the locomotive used in the Harry Potter film series.
In January 2020 no Hall's were operational on the mainline. 4936 Kinlet Hall is undergoing a Network Rail standard overhaul at Tyseley Locomotive Works.
NumberNameImageBuiltWithdrawnOwnerBaseStatusLiveryMainline CertifiedNotes
4920Dumbleton HallMarch 1929December 1965South Devon RailwaySouth Devon RailwayStoredGWR Lined Green, GW LetteringNooperational 1992-1999
4930Hagley HallMay 1929December 1963Severn Valley RailwaySevern Valley RailwayUndergoing overhaulNo
4936Kinlet HallJune 1929January 1964West Somerset RailwayTyseley Locomotive Works.Undergoing overhaulBR Lined Green, Late Crest No
4942Maindy HallJuly 1929December 1963Didcot Railway CentreDidcot Railway CentreOperationalGWR Lined Green, Great Western LetteringNoRebuilt into GWR 2900 Class no 2999 Lady of Legend
4953Pitchford HallAugust 1929May 1963Epping Ongar RailwayEpping Ongar RailwayOperationalBR Lined Black, Early EmblemNoReturned to traffic in December 2019.
4965Rood Ashton HallNovember 1930March 1962Vintage TrainsTyseley Locomotive WorksAwaiting overhaulGWR Lined Green, Great Western LetteringNo Used parts from 4983 Albert Hall, and was named Albert Hall on one side when entered service in preservation main line certified 1999-2019
4979Wootton HallFebruary 1930December 1963Furness Railway TrustRibble Steam RailwayUndergoing restorationNo
5900Hinderton HallMarch 1931December 1963Didcot Railway CentreDidcot Railway CentreStatic displayGWR Lined Green, Great Western LetteringNoWas used in the 1970s to haul nine vintage ex-GWR carriages on the main line from Didcot.
5952Cogan HallDecember 1935June 1964Betton Grange SocietyLlangollen RailwayStoredNoTender and other minor parts used on 6880 Betton Grange. Restoration to commence following the completion of 6880.
5967Bickmarsh HallMarch 1937June 1964Nortampton & Lamport RailwayNorthampton & Lamport RailwayUnder restorationNo
5972Olton HallApril 1937December 1963West Coast RailwaysWarner Brothers Studio ToursStatic displayHogwarts Railway's Crimson, Hogwarts Railway's CrestNoUsed in the Harry Potter films, renamed Hogwarts Castle for filming