The Great Western Railway Pannier Tanks (a summary).
The Pannier tank is synonymous with the Great Western Railway. Originally many of the older locomotives were built as saddle tanks but as they passed through the workshops from about 1900 onwards were converted to pannier tanks. The reason for the change is the introduction of Belpaire fireboxes with their flat tops which made the refitting of saddle tanks difficult. The most common form of pannier tank is the 5700 class which was later modified with improved cab to become class 8750. 772 of this class in total were employed in use on British Railways. There were many other classes as follows:-
1366
1366-1371 Small light weight outside cylindered Pannier tanks for use on light track and docks – famous for the Weymouth Harbour boat trains.
1500
1500-1509 Modern outside cylinder and valve gear mostly used on empty stock working at Paddington but some were also allocated to Newport.
1600
1600-1969 Lightweight locomotives with low headroom for working on lines with low bridges etc. Surprisingly in later years two were allocated to Helmsdale in the North of Scotland for working the Dornoch branch trains.
5400
5400-5424 Fitted with Auto-train equipment for push pull working.
5700
5700-5799, 7700-7799, 8700-8749, Together with the 8750 sub-class are the most numerous class of GWR Pannier tank.
6400
6400-6439 Similar to class 5400 fitted with Auto-train equipment but with smaller wheels for use on steeper routes.
6700
6700-6779 Identical to the 5700 class but without vacuum brakes for freight work only. Loco numbers 6750-6779 had modified cabs.
7400
7400-7449 Same as 6400 class but not Auto-train fitted.
8750
3600-3799, 4600-4699, 8700, 8750-8799, 9711-9799 Sub class of 5700 with modified cabs
9400
3400-3409, 8400-8499, 9400-9499 Panner tanks with taper boilers designed as a more modern version of the 5700 class.
9700
9700-9710 Built using standard parts from the 5700 class but the Pannier tanks extended downwards at the rear to meet the running plate and fitted with condensing equipment for working on the Metropolitan cut and cover lines.
There were others,
A Dean Goods tender locomotive was fitted with pannier tanks and condensing gear for the R.O.D. in WW1. Many low numbered pannier tanks (below 2999) were built before WW1 some of which were Auto-train fitted. Locomotives from the smaller ‘absorbed ‘ Welsh railways had pannier tanks and saddle tanks some of which received pannier tanks as progressing through Swindon Works during overhaul.
If you cannot find the sound file for the locomotive you require in the list above please email with your requirements quoting the locomotive number and where possible the Model Manufacturer and their catalogue number. We will then use our extensive library to supply your needs from actual locomotives of the same class if they are still working or from our archives where we will endeavour to match your requirements.
London Transport
It may be worth mentioning that between 1956 and 1963 London Transport obtained 13 pannier tanks of Sub Class 8750 from BR. One of them was a replacement for a loco with faults giving LT a fleet of 12 numbered from L89-L99.
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