GWR 5600 Class

Great Western Railway 5600 Class

Company type	Steam tank locomotive class
Industry	Railway transportation
Founded	1924
Founder	Charles Collett (designer)
Defunct	1965 (retirement date)
Headquarters	Swindon , United Kingdom
Products	0-6-2T steam locomotives
Number of employees	200 (units built)

Overview of the Great Western Railway 5600 Class

The 5600 Class steam locomotives, featuring a 0-6-2T wheel arrangement, were constructed between 1924 and 1928 under the direction of Charles Collett for the Great Western Railway (GWR). These engines entered operational service starting in 1924. Following the 1923 railway grouping, Swindon Works acquired a diverse fleet of locomotives from former Welsh companies, many of which did not align with GWR’s standardisation objectives. As a result, GWR boiler inspectors conducted thorough evaluations, leading to widespread condemnation or extensive rebuilding of these inherited engines. This process resulted in the systematic withdrawal and scrapping of numerous locomotives, although some continued to operate alongside the newly introduced 5600 Class.

A total of 200 units of the GWR 5600 Class were produced, serving until their retirement by British Railways between 1962 and 1965. Of these, nine locomotives have been preserved and remain in existence today.

Background: Welsh 0-6-2T Locomotive Varieties

The rail networks in South Wales traditionally utilized the 0-6-2T locomotive type extensively. This preference arose from operational demands that emphasized substantial adhesive weight and strong tractive force combined with effective braking, while high speeds or large coal and water reserves were unnecessary due to the short distances between mines and ports. The 0-6-2 wheel arrangement proved well-suited for negotiating the tight curves frequently encountered in the region. Following the Grouping in 1922, these Welsh engines were absorbed into the Great Western Railway (GWR) fleet as detailed below:

Railway	Number of Locomotives	GWR Assigned Numbers
Alexandra (Newport and South Wales) Docks and Railway	4	190–192, 663
Barry Railway	72	193–201, 203, 204, 206–214, 223–235, 238, 240–277
Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway (B&M)	18	11, 21, 332, 504, 698, 888, 1084, 1113, 1372–1375, 1668, 1670, 1674, 1677, 1692, 1833
Cardiff Railway	13	151–163
Neath and Brecon Railway	5	1114, 1117, 1277, 1327, 1371
Port Talbot Railway and Docks Company	7	183–189
Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway	19	164–182
Rhymney Railway	101	30–44, 46–91, 97–101, 105–110, 112–115, 117–119, 122, 127, 129, 130–145,147–150
Taff Vale Railway (TVR)	209	236, 278–302, 310,311,313–315,317–321,324,333,335,337,343–349,351,352,356,357,360–362,364–368,370–391,393,394,397–399,401–404,406,408–421,423–435,437–455,462,466,471–496,498–503,505–508,511,513–516,520,552,560–567,573,577–593,595–600

Several of these locomotives underwent rebuilding to incorporate GWR-style taper boilers. Between 1946 and 1950—although some were retired before renumbering—the remaining B&M engines along with a portion of TVR units received updated numbers. Upon nationalization in 1948 under British Railways (BR), multiple locomotives from these railways transferred into BR ownership with assigned numbers including:

• Alexandra (Newport and South Wales) Docks and Railway: BR number 190
• Barry Railway: BR numbers ranging from 198 to 277
• Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway: BR numbers between 422 and 436
• Cardiff Railway: BR number 155
• Port Talbot Railway and Docks Company: BR number 184
• Rhymney Railway: BR numbers spanning from 30 to 83
• Taff Vale Railway: BR numbers from 200 through to 411

Within the Taff Vale fleet particularly many engines remained active into the mid-20th century; however today only two locomotives survive: the TVR 'O1' No.28, recognized as the final Welsh-built survivor of its kind; alongside the TVR 'O2' No.85.

For additional details regarding these pre-grouping locomotives consult Locomotives of the Great Western Railway.

Origins

Upon acquiring the Welsh valley lines, the Great Western Railway (GWR) found that local locomotive crews favored their 0-6-2T engines. Instead of introducing an entirely new model, the 5600 Class was essentially a "Swindonised" adaptation of the Rhymney Railway M class and R class locomotives. These earlier designs—the 1904 M class and the similar 1909 R class—had proven effective for hauling heavy coal trains over short distances.

The 5600 Class was specifically created to operate in South Wales, replacing the aging locomotives inherited from smaller railways during the 1923 grouping. Unlike many other classes, the Rhymney Railway’s more modern 0-6-2 locomotives were generally well-maintained and successful, making them an ideal foundation for the 56xx design.

The GWR re-boilered five R class locomotives in 1926 and upgraded one M class engine in 1930. After these modifications, both classes closely resembled the appearance of the 5600 Class.

Design

The 5600 Class was engineered following Great Western Railway principles, incorporating numerous standardized components. Among Churchward’s contributions was the Standard Number 2 boiler, which suited not only the 5600 Class but also the Rhymney M and R class locomotives. These boilers featured traditional GWR elements such as brass safety valve casings and copper-capped chimneys.

These were relatively large tank engines, measuring 37 ft 6 in (11.43 m) in length and weighing approximately 62 long tons (63 t; 69 short tons). Their side tanks had a capacity of 1,900 imp gal (8,600 L; 2,300 US gal) of water. The design of their high-domed cabs, bunkers, and tanks bore a strong resemblance to those of the 31xx and 42xx classes. A total of one hundred units were constructed at the GWR’s Swindon workshops between 1924 and 1927.

Despite their power, these locomotives were met with dissatisfaction from footplate crews due to frequent mechanical issues, particularly hot axle boxes. Unlike the original Welsh-built engines, they lacked wider tolerances in their axle boxes. Additionally, they had a tendency to derail; therefore, crews preferred operating them in reverse where the leading pony truck helped negotiate sharp curves. When the initial batch was swiftly returned to Swindon for adjustments, Collett faced criticism from Caerphilly Works’ Director for producing a locomotive unsuited to its intended routes.

In 1927, another hundred similar locomotives were built—these slightly heavier models were assigned numbers in the 66xx series. Numbers 6600–6649 were manufactured at Swindon between 1927 and 1928, while due to workload constraints, numbers 6650–6699 were produced by Armstrong Whitworth in 1928. The Armstrong Whitworth engines featured minor design variations compared to their Swindon counterparts; most notably, extra balance weights were installed inside the driving wheel webs opposite the crank pins to address earlier faults. When Welsh railwaymen realized that the newer GWR 5700 Class 0-6-0 pannier tank, introduced in 1929, was even better suited for similar duties—being shorter, lighter, yet offering comparable (though slightly reduced) tractive effort—no further locomotives of the Class 56xx/66xx were produced.

Notably, the GWR’s only newly built locomotive with a 0-6-2 wheel arrangement was this very 5600 Class. Nonetheless, from 1940 to 1945 more than four hundred locomotives with this wheel configuration remained operational across various lines, reflecting the substantial number absorbed in the grouping of 1923.

Table of orders and numbersTemplate:Sfnb

Year	Quantity	Lot No.	Locomotive numbers	Notes
1924–25	50	228	5600–5649
1926–27	50	235	5650–5699
1927–28	30	244	6600–6629
1928	20	252	6630–6649
1928	50	255	6650–6699	Armstrong-Whitworth works nos. 938–987

Dimensions

• Locomotive mass:
  • All engines, 68 tons 12 cwt
  • 5600 Series, 68 tons 12 cwt
  • 6600 Series, 69 tons 7 cwt
  • 5600 Series, 62 tons 18 cwt
  • 6600 Series, approximately 15 cwt heavier than the 5600 Series

Service

6614 hauling a coal train at Newport

During the 1930s, a decline in South Wales' coal industry prompted the redistribution of many locomotives from this class to other regions within the network. The design's inherent stability allowed numerous drivers to operate the 56xx series running in reverse (bunker leading) along the Welsh valleys. The positioning of the trailing wheels facilitated smoother navigation through curves when running bunker first compared to the opposite direction. Typically, heavy loads were hauled with the tanks running bunker first, while return journeys ascending the valleys were made smokebox first.

All locomotives from the 56xx and 66xx classes transferred to British Railways control following nationalisation in 1948 and remained active until 1962. Their withdrawal accelerated rapidly as diesel traction became increasingly prevalent on BR. By 1965, every unit had been retired from service.

Withdrawal

Locomotives withdrawn at Swindon

The withdrawal process occurred between 1962 and 1966, with numbers 5605 and 6697 being among the final engines to be decommissioned.

Preservation

6619 displayed in BR Black at Weybourne

A number of these locomotives found their way to Woodham Brothers' scrapyard located in Barry, South Wales. Eight out of nine preserved examples were rescued from Barry. Most preserved units were constructed at Swindon Works, while three—6686, 6695, and 6697—originated from Armstrong Whitworth.

Given their primary operation in South Wales, enthusiasts often refer to this class as "Taffy Tank"; however, this nickname was never officially assigned to the 56xx series. The term 'Taffy' is a colloquial and sometimes derogatory label for Welsh individuals. The original "Taffy Tanks" title is more commonly associated with the Rhymney Railway's M and R classes that these locomotives replaced.

As of 2023, six locomotives have been operational in preservation. Currently, three are active; number 5668 is undergoing restoration from scrapyard condition at the Kent and East Sussex Railway; numbers 6634 and 6686 await restoration at Peak Rail and the Barry Tourist Railway, respectively; while number 6697 remains on static exhibit at Didcot Railway Centre.

The table below details preserved locomotives:

Number	Builder	Construction Date	Withdrawal Date	Service Duration	Owner	Current Location	Livery	Condition	Remarks
5619	Swindon Works	March 1925	June 1964	39 years, 3 months	Telford Steam Railway	Telford Steam Railway	BR Unlined Black	Operational
5637	Swindon Works	September 1925	June 1964	38 years, 9 months	5637 Steam Locomotive Group	Swindon and Cricklade Railway	BR Lined Green	Awaiting Overhaul	Stationed permanently at S & CR pending a ten-year Heavy General Overhaul.
5643	Swindon Works	October 1925	July 1963	37 years, 9 months	Furness Railway Trust	Ribble Steam Railway	BR Lined Green	Undergoing Overhaul	Currently undergoing a decade-long overhaul at its home railway; intended for completion by its centenary in 2025.
5668	Swindon Works	June 1926	September 1964	38 years, 3 months	Private Owner	Kent and East Sussex Railway		Awaiting Restoration	Asbestos removal completed in preparation for boiler lifting.
6619	Swindon Works	January 1928	March 1963	35 years, 1 month	6619 Ltd.	Kent and East Sussex Railway	BR Unlined Black	Awaiting Overhaul	Boiler certificate expired on January 1, 2015.
6634	Swindon Works	August 1928	June 1964	35 years, 8 months	Pete Waterman	Peak Rail		Under Restoration	Restoration planned at SVR was not initiated; relocated to Rowsley in November 2017.
6686	Armstrong Whitworth	October 1928	June 1964	35 years, 6 months	Vale of Glamorgan Council	Barry Tourist Railway		One of the notable "Barry Ten."
6695	October 1928| July 1964| 35 years, 9 months| 6695 Locomotive Ltd| Swindon and Cricklade Railway| GWR Unlined Green| Operational| Withdrawn after boiler certificate expired in 2015; returned to service on S & CR in September 2022; currently based at Avon Valley Railway.
Armstrong Whitworth| October 1928| May 1966| 37 years, 7 months|| Didcot Railway Centre| GWR Unlined Green| Static Display| The sole member of this class never stored at Woodham Brothers scrapyard.

References

• Template:RCTS-LocosGWR-1

External links

• 5600 class (Great Western Archive)
• No. 5637 (5637 Steam Locomotive Group)
• No. 5643 (Furness Railway Trust)
• No. 6619 (Kent & East Sussex Railway)
• No. 6695 (Swanage Railway)