GWR 4700 Class

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GWR 4700 Class
4705 at the Southall Locomotive Depot, in 1962
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer George Jackson Churchward Builder GWR Swindon Works Order number Lots 214, 221 Serial number 4700: 2866, 4701–4708: none Build date 1919 (1), 1922–1923 (8) Total produced 9
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-8-0  • UIC 1'D h2 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Leading dia. 3 ft 2 in (0.965 m) Driver dia. 5 ft 8 in (1.727 m) Minimum curve 8 chains (530 ft; 160 m) normal, 7 chains (460 ft; 140 m) slow Length 66 ft 4+1⁄4 in (20.22 m) Width 8 ft 11 in (2.718 m) Height 13 ft 4+3⁄4 in (4.083 m) Axle load 19 long tons 12 cwt (43,900 lb or 19.9 t) 19 long tons 12 hundredweight (19.9 t; 22.0 short tons) full Adhesive weight 73 long tons 8 cwt (164,400 lb or 74.6 t) 73 long tons 8 hundredweight (74.6 t; 82.2 short tons) full Loco weight 82 long tons 0 cwt (183,700 lb or 83.3 t) 82 long tons 0 hundredweight (83.3 t; 91.8 short tons) full Tender weight 46 long tons 14 cwt (104,600 lb or 47.4 t) 45 long tons 14 hundredweight (46.4 t; 51.2 short tons) full Fuel type Coal Water cap. 3,500 or 4,000 imperial gallons (16,000 or 18,000 L; 4,200 or 4,800 US gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 30.28 sq ft (2.813 m2) Boiler GWR Standard No. 7[1] Boiler pressure 225 lbf/in2 (1.55 MPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 169.75 sq ft (15.770 m2)  • Tubes 2,062.35 sq ft (191.599 m2) Superheater: ​  • Type 4-element or 6-element  • Heating area 4-element: 211.20 sq ft (19.621 m2), 6-element: 276.98 sq ft (25.732 m2) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 19 in × 30 in (483 mm × 762 mm) Valve gear Stephenson Valve type Piston valves
Performance figures Tractive effort 30,460 lbf (135.5 kN)
Career Operators GWR » BR Class 4700 Power class GWR: D, BR: 7F Numbers 4700–4708 Nicknames Night Owls Axle load class GWR: Red Withdrawn 1962–1964 Disposition All original locomotives scrapped; one new-build under construction

The Great Western Railway (GWR) 4700 Class was a class of nine 2-8-0 steam locomotives, designed by George Jackson Churchward. They were introduced in 1919 for heavy mixed-traffic work. Although primarily designed for fast freight, the class also sometimes hauled passenger trains, notably heavy holiday expresses in the summer months. They were unofficially nicknamed "Night Owls" because they were primarily designed to haul goods during the night and they could be seen simmering in the daylight, awaiting their nocturnal duties.^[2][3][4]