2-6-2T Class 45xx/ 4575/ 55xx 'Small Prairie' GWR Profile and Models
No 4566 at the Severn Valley Railway in August 2007. © Tony Hisgett
The GWR 4500 Class (also known as the Small Prairie) was a mixed traffic locomotive, used mainly on branch lines across the GWR network. They were based on the earlier 4400 Class but featured larger driving wheels and altered wheel spacing which allowed for a higher top speed of 60mph in service. The first batch was notable for being the last steam locos built at Stafford Road Works in Wolverhampton, with one of this batch being the final Wolverhampton-built steam loco in service with BR. Further examples were built at Swindon. Collett later developed additional versions of the Small Prairie in the form of the 4575/ 55xx class. Three 45xx locos are preserved, with 11 of the later 4575/ 55xx locos also in preservation. |
|
Type of Locomotive |
Steam |
Builder |
Wolverhampton Works Swindon Works |
Build Dates |
45xx: 1906 to 1924 4575/ 55xx: 1927 to 1929 |
Total Built |
45xx: 75 575/ 55xx: 100 |
Tractive Effort |
21,250 lbf |
Top Speed |
60 mph |
Wheel Configuration |
2-6-2T |
Operated By |
Great Western Railway British Railways |
Main Duties |
Mixed Traffic |
In Service Until |
1964 |
Surviving Locos |
45xx: 3 4575/ 55xx: 11 |
Products awaiting categorisation
Scale | Brand | Image | Construction Type | DCC Capability | Product Code | Product Title | Livery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) | Churchward Models | Requires assembly | Not set |
45XXCW View |
45XX 2-6-2 Steam locomotive kit | Awaiting Categorisation | |
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) | Dapol | Requires assembly | Unpowered |
C062 View |
2-6-2 BR Prairie steam loco plastic kit | Unpainted | |
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) | Dapol | Requires assembly | Unpowered |
C089 View |
2-6-2 GWR Prairie steam loco plastic kit | Unpainted | |
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) | Keyser (K's) | Requires assembly | Not set |
L25 View |
GWR Class 55xx 2-6-2 Prairie Tank kit | Awaiting Categorisation | |
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) | Mitchell Design | Requires assembly | Not set |
4575MD View |
GWR 4575/55XX Class 2-6-2t Steam locomotive kit | Awaiting Categorisation | |
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) | Samhongsa Co. Ltd. | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
RTR102 View |
GWR Class 55xx 2-6-2T in unpainted brass - limited edition of 300 | Awaiting Categorisation | |
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) | Tower Models | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
55XXRTR View |
Class 55xx 2-6-2T in unpainted brass | Awaiting Categorisation | |
O Gauge (1:43 Scale) | Mitchell Design | Requires assembly | Not set |
45xxMD View |
Class 45xx Small Prairie Tank Kit | Awaiting Categorisation | |
O Gauge (1:43 Scale) | Tower Models | RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
TBL7 View |
Class 4575 Small Prairie 2-6-2T in unpainted brass with black chassis | Unpainted |