GWR 2221 County Tank Class
The GWR County Tank Class was a series of 4-4-2 side-tank locomotives designed by George Jackson Churchward and built at Swindon Works from 1905, constructed for outer-suburban and semi-fast passenger services in the London, Bristol, and Birmingham areas. Using two outside cylinders with Churchward's long-travel valve gear and 6 ft 8½ in coupled wheels, the County Tank was an unusually high-powered Atlantic tank for its era, designed to provide genuine express capability on longer outer-suburban runs.
In practice the 4-4-2T weight distribution proved less than ideal for the GWR's outer-suburban services, and the type was superseded by Prairie tanks and 4-4-0 tender engines on the relevant duties. Collett rebuilt all examples as County Class 4-4-0 tender engines, removing the side tanks and fitting a tender. None survived in original tank form.
Design and development
Churchward designed the County Tank in 1905 as the tank-engine version of the County 4-4-0; rebuilt by Collett c.1930 as tender engines.
Service and withdrawals
Worked GWR outer-suburban services 1905–c.1930 before Collett rebuild. None preserved.
Identification features
Outside-cylinder 4-4-2 tank with 6 ft 8½ in coupled wheels.
Notable locomotives
- Various — none preserved
