GWR 94XX Class 0-6-0 Pannier Tank No.9466

by Gordon James

Title

GWR 94XX Class 0-6-0 Pannier Tank No.9466

Artist

Gordon James

Medium

Photograph - Photography Digital

Description

Great Western Railway 94XX Class 0-6-0 Pannier Tank No.9466
First introduced in 1947, the 94XX pannier tanks were designed by F. W. Hawksworth as a modern version of the 57XX machines of C B Collett. The first ten of the 94XX series were built by the Great Western Railway at their Swindon works and were fitted with superheated boilers. The prototype engine of the class, 9400, was built in Swindon and entered traffic in February 1947. On the formation of British Railways in 1948, it was decided to continue building these useful locos, and a further 200 were order, with 50 to be by Swindon and 150 by outside contractors (Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns, W G Bagnall, Yorkshire Engine Company, Hunslett and Hudswell Clarke) between 1949 and 1956.

9466 itself was one of a batch of thirty built by Robert Stephenson and Hawthorn Ltd. under lot No. 383, being towed from Darlington to Swindon during February 1952 as RSH works No. 7617. Its first home depot was Worcester (85A). Worcester had a number of these 94XX tanks which were used not only for shunting and pilot work, but also on local passenger and freight duties including the Malvern and Evesham turns and Bromyard branch freight.

9466 stayed at Worcester for 9 years until it was overhauled at Wolverhampton Stafford Road Works (November 1960), before transfer to Bristol (St Phillips Marsh) (82B) in January 1961. The demise of steam on the Great Western was in full spate in the early 1960´s and engines of the 94XX class were becoming redundant. Some were withdrawn and scrapped and some were stored at Swindon and elsewhere pending a decision on their fate. In November 1960 fifty of the class were sold to private dealers for scrap. Nine of the fifty were sold to Woodham Brothers of Barry. GWR No. 9466 was not in this batch condemned.

Towards the end of its working life the engine also saw service at Tondu depot (86F) in South Wales from June 1962, and at Radyr shed (88B) also in South Wales from July 1963. Duties at these two sheds were similar and comprised trip work and yard shunting. These activities were taken over by diesel motive power in the form of 350hp shunters and Class 37´s. 9466 was withdrawn for scrap on 6 June 1964 after a working life of less than 12 years. This was longer than many of the class, for example 3404 was built in March 1956 and withdrawn in July 1962 after a mere 6¼ years. For preservation history please follow this link: https://www.brc-stockbook.co.uk/gwr9466.htm

As of 2023 this steam locomotive is based at the West Somerset Railway.

Uploaded

December 12th, 2019

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