Class 655 of the Great Western Railway was a class of 52 0-6-0ST locomotives designed by George Armstrong and built at the GWR's Wolverhampton Works.

Design and construction

They were built in three lots between 1892 and 1897:

  • Nos. 655, 767 and 1741-1750 (Lot A3, 1892)
  • Nos. 1771-1790 (Lot B3, 1892-4)
  • Nos. 2701-2720 (Lot E3, 1896-7)

They were in effect a continuation of the 645 Class, with longer frames though using the same 4 ft 6 in (1,370 mm) wheels and 15 ft 6 in (4.72 m) wheelbase, and they were the last of the larger type of tank engine to be built at Wolverhampton. Pannier tanks were later fitted to all of them, apart from No. 1772, between 1912 and 1930.

Use

They were nearly all Northern Division engines until the 1920s, though later Weymouth had as many as five. Withdrawal started in 1928, but 21 continued into British Railways ownership. Nos. 1782 and 2719 survived until November 1950.

Notes

References

Sources

  • le Fleming, H. M. (April 1958). White, D. E. (ed.). The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, part five: Six-coupled Tank Engines. RCTS. ISBN 0-901115-35-5. OCLC 500544510. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)

External links

  • No. 1790, outside Tyseley shed in 1937

Tyseley Shed GWR 060PT No 2714, a member of the 655 class designed

GWR Class 56XX 062T No.6695 Photo Transport

GWR 1741 (655) Class Jim Champ's

A Beginner's Guide to Pannier Tanks

The Transport Library Ex GWR 5600 Class 062T No.6695 at Watchet