GWR 517 class
1165 atTrumpers Crossing Halte station
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer George Armstrong Builder GWRWolverhampton Works Order number Lots D, E, F, G, H, I, R, S, W, Z, C2, M2, P2 Build date 1868–1885 Total produced 156
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-4-2T  • UIC B1 n2t Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)standard gauge Driver dia. 5 ft 0 in (1.524 m) or 5 ft 2 in (1.575 m) Trailing dia. 3 ft 8 in (1.118 m) Wheelbase 15 ft 6 in (4.72 m) Length 28 ft4+5⁄8 in (8.65 m) Width 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) Height 12 ft1+5⁄8 in (3.70 m) Axle load 12 long tons 16 cwt (28,700 lb or 13 t) 13.0 t; 14.3 short tons full Adhesive weight 24 long tons 16 cwt (55,600 lb or 25.2 t) 25.2 t; 27.8 short tons full Loco weight 35 long tons 4 cwt (78,800 lb or 35.8 t) 35.8 t; 39.4 short tons full Fuel type Coal Water cap. 620 imp gal (2,800 L; 740 US gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 12.83 sq ft (1.192 m2) Boiler GWR 517 GWR 2021[1] Boiler pressure 150 psi (10.34 bar; 1.03 MPa) or 165 psi (1.14 MPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 83.14 sq ft (7.724 m2)  • Tubes 904.47 sq ft (84.028 m2) Superheater None Cylinders Two, inside Cylinder size 15 in × 24 in (381 mm × 610 mm), later 16 in × 24 in (406 mm × 610 mm) Valve gear Stephenson Valve type Slide valves
Performance figures Tractive effort 12,635–14,780 lbf (56.20–65.74 kN)
Career Operators Great Western Railway Class 517 Power class Unclassified Axle load class Unclassified Withdrawn 1904–1945 Disposition Allscrapped

The517 Class were small 0-4-2T tank engines designed byGeorge Armstrong for local passenger work on theGreat Western Railway.^[2] They were built atWolverhampton Works and were outshopped between 1868 and 1885. A total of 156 locomotives were built in thirteen lots, to various designs, commencing with 517–528 and ending with 1477–1488 in 1884–1885.

The class was far from uniform and encompassed three different wheelbases, saddle and side tanks, and various boilers to name just a few variations. Driving wheels were 5 ft 0 in (1.524 m) (later 5 ft 2 in or 1.575 m due to thickertyres), cylinders 15 in × 24 in (381 mm × 610 mm), (later 16 in × 24 in or 406 mm × 610 mm) and boiler pressure 150 psi (1.03 MPa) (later 165 psi or 1.14 MPa).

When new, the first sixty were numbered 1040–87 (Lots D to G inclusive) and 1100–11 (Lot H); they were renumbered 517–576 in July 1870.^[4]

The earlier ones were rebuilt from saddle tanks while the later ones were built as side tanks from the beginning. The3571 Class were very closely related, its prototype being a minor rebuild of 517 class No. 1477 in 1895. Then ten new locos followed in the next two years. Returning to the 517 class, various bunker and cab combinations also evolved, and after their last rebuilding, the locos with enclosed cabs and large bunkers were effectively the progenitors of Collett's4800 class. In 1898, No. 1473 was namedFair Rosamund, to work a royal train on theBlenheim and Woodstock branch line. The locomotive was then regularly used for the Woodstock branch in subsequent years.

The independence of the Armstrong brothers is symbolised by the fact that Joseph at Swindon preferred the 2-4-0T wheel arrangement (the455 Class "Metro" Tanks) over 0-4-2T while George built none of the former at Wolverhampton.

In the 19th century, the 517s were principally Northern Division engines, and when new worked the Birmingham and Wolverhampton suburban traffic. UnderChurchward the situation changed: about half of the class was fitted forautotrain working, and these engines were regularly maintained and moved around the system where needed; while the other, unconverted engines were demoted and became little more than shunters. Nevertheless as late as the 1920s the class was found in almost all parts of the GWR system. Most of the class ran between a million and a million and a half miles (2,400,000 km), No. 1163 holding the record at 1,652,661. None of the 517s were preserved, the last survivor No. 848 being scrapped in 1945 at the age of 70.^[5]

Whenautotrains were introduced on the GWR, a trial was made of enclosing the engine in coachwork to resemble the coaches. Nos 533 and 833 of this class were so equipped in 1906, as were two2021 class 0-6-0Ts. The experiment was unpopular with engine crews, and the bodywork was removed in 1911.^[6][7]

• On 15 April 1923, locomotive No. 215 was haulingAutocoach No. 70 when it was in a head-on collision with a goods train, hauled byGWR 4000 Class4-6-0 No. 4048Princess Victoria, atCurry Rivel,Somerset due to a signalman's error. Nine people were injured.^[8]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toGWR 517 Class.

• Casserley, H. C. & Johnston, Stuart W. (1966).Locomotives at the Grouping 4: Great Western Railway. Shepperton, Middlesex: Ian Allan Limited. pp. 20–21.
• Champ, Jim (2018).An Introduction to Great Western Locomotive Development. Barnsley:Pen & Sword Transport.ISBN 978-1-4738-7784-9.OCLC 1029234106.OL 26953051M.
• Holcroft, Harold (1971) [1957].An Outline of Great Western Locomotive Practice 1837-1947. Shepperton:Ian Allan.ISBN 0-7110-0228-2.
• Tabor, F.J. (1959).The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, part six: Four-coupled Tank Engines.RCTS.
• Vaughan, Adrian (1989).Obstruction Danger. Wellingborough: Patrick Stephens Limited.ISBN 1-85260-055-1.
• Whitehurst, Brian (1973).Great Western Engines, Names, Numbers, Types and Classes (1940 to Preservation). Oxford, UK: Oxford Publishing Company. pp. 16, 17, 102, 125.ISBN 978-0-9028-8821-0.OCLC 815661.

• Great Western Railway locomotives
• 0-4-2T locomotives
• Railway locomotives introduced in 1868
• Standard-gauge steam locomotives of Great Britain
• Scrapped locomotives
• Passenger locomotives in the United Kingdom

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