Known as the Prairies, these tank engines of the 2-6-2T variety were some of Churchward’s earliest designs and were the precursor for successful variations of tank engines.
There were two basic types, the smaller type for branch lines and the larger type mostly for outer suburban work in London and Birmingham, but also used as banking engines at Sapperton, Rattery, Hemerdon and Dainton inclines. The smaller 45XX class started off as a class of seventy-five engines, but were eventually developed by Collett into a class more than double the size. They saw service on the St Ives portion of the Cornish Riviera Express and the Pwllheli portion of the Cambrian Coast Express.
This book is divided into chapters, the first three covering:
- The Large Prairies: The 3100, 5101, 61XX, 81XX and 3150 Classes
- The Small Prairies: The 44XX, 45XX and 4575 Classes
- The Dean/Churchward Prairies: The 39XX (3901) Class Dean/Churchward Design
A table of historic workings of Prairie locomotives is also included, along with a series of maps. Well-illustrated throughout with archive black & white photographs. 96 pages.
Profusely illustrated throughout and packed with technical detail, Allen Jackson tells the story of the Great Western Railway’s Prairie class locomotives.