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GWR 2900 Class

The Great Western Railway Saint Class 4-6-0 steam locomotives for passenger train work. Number 2925 Saint Martin was later rebuilt as the prototype Hall Class locomotive, and renumbered 4900.

Prototypes

Three prototype versions of what was to become the 'Saint' class of locomotives were made in 1902–1903. The first of these was number 100 and it was completely different from anything the Great Western had produced before. Built to his ideas on standardisation of design, G. J. Churchward created a large response for its completely modern look, but few people realised the great developments that it would bring about. It was originally built with a parallel boiler, then with a half-cone boiler in 1903 and later the first superheated half-cone boiler in 1910. The locomotive was said to have an American look about her and it was true that Churchward had investigated American designs on boilers, but for efficiency in the design of the motion, it was to the continent that he turned. To this end, a locomotive was ordered from the Société Alsacienne for the De Glehn 4-4-2 compound engine so that Churchward could compare the design with his own.

The second prototype was engine number 98. Built with a half-cone boiler as standard, the difference between the earlier locomotive was in the valve gear layout and cylinder design, and in addition, the valve diameter had grown from 6½ inches (165 mm) to 10 inches (254 mm).

The third and last prototype was number 171 and although built in 4-6-0 configuration, it was quickly converted to 4-4-2 so that a direct comparison with the De Glehn locomotives was established. The third prototype's main contrast with previous prototype engines was a working pressure of . While the trials between the two locomotives were taking place, a further nineteen locomotives were ordered similar to the design of 171 except that thirteen were built as 4-4-2s while the remaining six were built as 4-6-0s, until a decision was made on the best wheel arrangement for the Great Western's lines.

Production

Year	Lot No.	Works No.	Quantity	GWR Numbers	Notes
1902	132	1928	1	100	Renumbered 2900
1903	138	1990	1	98	Renumbered 2998
1903	154	2024	1	171	Ran as 4–4–2 from 1904/10 to 1907/07. Renumbered 2971
1905	154	2106	1	172	Built as 4-4-2. Rebuilt as 4-6-0. Renumbered 2972
1905	154	2107–2122	6	173–178	Renumbered 2973–2978
1905	154	2113–2114	2	179–180	Rebuilt as 4-6-0. Renumbered 2979–2980
1905	158	2128–2137	10	181–190	Rebuilt as 4-6-0. Renumbered 2981–2990
1906	164	2199–2208	10	2901–2910
1907	170	2259–2278	20	2911–2930
1911	185	2426–2435	10	2931–2940
1912	189	2476–2485	10	2941–2950
1913	192	2506–2510	5	2951–2955

Preservation

Because no Saints survived into preservation, the Great Western Society at Didcot is currently reverting 4942 Maindy Hall to be 2999 - Lady of Legend.

List of locomotives

No.	Name	Built	Withdrawn	Notes
2900	William Dean			Originally un-named. Carried name Dean from June to November 1902
2901	Lady Superior			Named October 1906
2902	Lady of the Lake			Named April 1907
2903	Lady of Lyons			Named April 1907
2904	Lady Godiva			Named April 1907
2905	Lady Macbeth			Named April 1907
2906	Lady of Lynn			Named May 1907
2907	Lady Disdain			Named April 1907
2908	Lady of Quality			Named May 1907
2909	Lady of Provence			Named May 1907
2910	Lady of Shalott			Named May 1907
2911	Saint Agatha
2912	Saint Ambrose
2913	Saint Andrew
2914	Saint Augustine
2915	Saint Bartholomew
2916	Saint Benedict
2917	Saint Bernard
2918	Saint Catherine
2919	Saint Cuthbert			Originally named Saint Cecelia; renamed October 1907
2920	Saint David
2921	Saint Dunstan
2922	Saint Gabriel
2923	Saint George
2924	Saint Helena
2925	Saint Martin			Rebuilt to prototype Hall class
2926	Saint Nicholas
2927	Saint Patrick
2928	Saint Sebastian
2929	Saint Stephen
2930	Saint Vincent
2931	Arlington Court
2932	Ashton Court
2933	Bibury Court
2934	Butleigh Court
2935	Caynham Court
2936	Cefntilla Court
2937	Clevedon Court
2938	Corsham Court
2939	Croome Court
2940	Dorney Court
2941	Easton Court
2942	Fawley Court
2943	Hampton Court
2944	Highnam Court
2945	Hillingdon Court
2946	Langford Court
2947	Madresfield Court
2948	Stackpole Court
2949	Stanford Court
2950	Taplow Court
2951	Tawstock Court
2952	Twineham Court
2953	Titley Court
2954	Tockenham Court
2955	Tortworth Court
2971	Albion			Built as No. 171. Named Albion February 1904. Rebuilt to 4-4-2, October 1904. Renamed The Pirate March 1907. Rebuilt back to 4-6-0, July 1907 and renamed Albion. Renumbered 2971, 1913.
2972	The Abbot			Built as 4-4-2 No. 172 Quicksilver. Renamed March 1907. Rebuilt as 4-6-0 April 1912.
2973	Robins Bolitho			Built as No. 173
2974	Lord Barrymore			Built as No. 174 Barrymore. Renamed, May 1905
2975	Lord Palmer			Built as unnamed No. 175. Named Viscount Churchill, 1907. Renamed Sir Ernest Palmer, February 1924. Renamed Lord Palmer, in October 1933.
2976	Winterstoke			Built as unnamed No. 176. Named, April 1907.
2977	Robertson			Built as unnamed No. 177. Named, April 1907.
2978	Charles J. Hambro			Built as No. 178 Kirkland. Renamed, May 1935.
2979	Quentin Durward			Built as 4-4-2 No. 179 Magnet. Renamed, March 1907. Rebuilt as 4-6-0, August 1912.
2980	Coeur de Lion			Built as unnamed 4-4-2 No. 180. Named in March 1907. Rebuilt as 4-6-0, January 1913.
2981	Ivanhoe			Built as unnamed 4-4-2 No. 181. Named in 1907. Rebuilt as 4-6-0, July 1912.
2982	Lalla Rookh			Built as unnamed 4-4-2 No. 182. Named in 1906. Rebuilt as 4-6-0, November 1912.
2983	Redgauntlet			Built as 4-4-2 No. 183 Red Gauntlet. Rebuilt as 4-6-0, April 1912. Renamed Redgauntlet, June 1915.
2984	Guy Mannering			Built as 4-4-2 No. 184 Churchill. Renamed Viscount Churchill in 1906. Renamed Guy Mannering, 1907. Rebuilt as 4-6-0, August 1912.
2985	Peveril of the Peak			Built as unnamed 4-4-2 No. 185. Named Winterstoke, February 1906. Renamed Peveril of the Peak, April 1907. Rebuilt as 4-6-0, May 1912. Withdrawn August 1931.
2986	Robin Hood			Built as unnamed 4-4-2 No. 186. Named in April 1906. Rebuilt as 4-6-0, May 1912.
2987	''Bride of Lammermoor			Built as unnamed 4-4-2 No. 187. Named Robertson, November 1905. Renamed 'Bride of Lammermoor, April 1907. Rebuilt as 4-6-0, June 1912.
2988	Rob Roy			Built as unnamed 4-4-2 No. 188. Named, 1907. Rebuilt as 4-6-0, May 1912.
2989	Talisman			Built as unnamed 4-4-2 No. 189. Named, 1906. Rebuilt as 4-6-0, October 1912.
2990	Waverley			Built as unnamed 4-4-2 No. 190. Named, 1906. Rebuilt as 4-6-0, November 1912.
2998	Ernest Cunard			Built as unnamed No. 98. Named Persimmon, 1906. Renamed [Vanguard, March 1907. Renamed Ernest Cunard, December 1907. Renumbered 2998 in 1913.
2999	Lady of Legend	—	—	Modern conversion from previous 4900 class, 4242 Maindy Hall

References

Allan, Ian, compiler (1944). The ABC of Great Western Locomotives. McCorquodale and Co., Ltd., London.
Bradley, Rodger (1988). GWR Two Cylinder 4–6–0s and 2–6–0s. Newton Abbot, Devon: David and Charles Publishing plc.
Lady of Legend details. Great Western Society website. Retrieved on 2008-06-10..
2900 'Saint' Class. Great Western Archive. Retrieved on 2008-09-25..