GWR 3600 Class

The Great Western Railway (GWR) 3600 Class was a class of 2-4-2T side tank steam locomotive, designed by William Dean and built at Swindon in three lots in 1900-1903:
==History==
Dean had built an experimental 2-4-2T numbered 11, whose success led to the cancellation of another batch of 2-4-0 "Metro" Tanks and the construction of the 3600s in their place. The new 2-4-2Ts had 5 ft 2 in (1.575 m) coupled wheels and 17 in × 24 in (432 mm × 610 mm) cylinders. The second batch were slightly longer than the prototype, resulting in greater tank capacity, and the third lot, delivered under Churchward, were slightly larger again, and had taper boilers. The class gained the nickname "Birdcage" due to their (for the GWR) unusually spacious cabs.
Table of orders and numbers
Year	Quantity	Lot No.	Serial Nos.	Locomotive numbers	Notes
1900	01 	130 	1907 	11 	renumbered 3600 in 1912
1902	20 	134 	1866–1885 	3601–3620 	Serial numbers out of sequence
1903	10 	143 	2013–2022 	3621–3630 	
==Use==
The 3600 class were fitted with steam reversing gear, steam brakes, and two steam-operated water pick-ups for forward and reverse working. This reflects their intended work as fast suburban engines. About half were employed on such duties in the Birmingham area. The rest worked in the London area, though later a few worked Chester-Birkenhead trains, and some were allocated to South Wales sheds. They were essentially passenger train locomotives, and were eventually superseded by Collett's 2-6-2Ts. All were withdrawn and scrapped between 1930 and 1934.
==External links==
*3600 'Birdcage' tank class
Category:Scrapped locomotives
Category:Swindon Works locomotives
Category:Great Western Railway locomotives
Category:Tank locomotives
Category:Locomotives
Category:Standard gauge locomotives
Category:Standard gauge steam locomotives of Great Britain
Category:2-4-2 locomotives
Category:2-4-2 steam locomotives
Category:2-4-2T locomotives
Category:2-4-2T steam locomotives
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:Built in 1900
Category:Built in 1901
Category:Built in 1902
Category:Built in 1903
Category:Side tank locomotives