Locomotive Class
Class 29XX Saint Class
Class: Class 29XX Saint Class
Type: Steam
Designer: George J. Churchward
Weight: 112 tons
Purpose: Express Passenger
Information: The Saint Class was developed for express passenger services on the Great Western Railway (GWR) by George J. Churchward and became the basis for successive 4-6-0 wheel arrangement locomotives built by the railway.
Details: The class prototype was built at Swindon Locomotive Works in 1902. Two successive locomotives were constructed with minor changes in 1903 resulting in the class standard design. The class featured two outside cylinders and large driving wheels suitable for high speed passenger service. Eventually 76 members were constructed to the Saint Class specification; many were rebuilds of earlier 4-4-2 designs.
Although the first Class member 2900 was simply named “Dean” other early Class members took on names of Saints. Later locomotives were named after Manors, Courts, and both fictional and famous names.
Generally considered a successful design, the Saint Class was improved on as more power was called for by railway management. In 1924 class member 2925 “Saint Martin” was modified with smaller driving wheels and an up-dated cab arrangement to emerge as the prototype for the highly successful mixed traffic 49XX Hall Class.
As more powerful locomotives such as Castles and Kings were introduced for passenger workings and suitable mixed traffic designs were being added the Saints were made redundant. Withdrawals were none the less made at a slow pace with the class being withdrawn, scrapped, or rebuilt to up-dated designs between 1931 and 1953.
None of the original Saint Class made it into preservation. However, the Didcot Railway Centre has undertaken to convert former 4942 “Maindy Hall” to Saint Class specification and is expected to be operational again.
John Faulkner
Class 29XX Saint Class Releases (4)
Class 29XX Saint Class Images (4)
Saint Class Locomotive - Clevedon Court 2937
Saint Class Locomotive - Saint Catherine 2918
Saint Class Locomotive - Saint David 2920
Saint Class Locomotive - Saint Patrick 2927
