GWR 4575 Class

The Great Western Railway (GWR) 4575 Class is a class of 2-6-2T British steam locomotives.
==History==
They were designed as small mixed traffic branch locomotives, mainly used on branch lines. They were a development of Churchward's 4500 Class with larger side tanks and increased water capacity. 100 were built numbered 4575–4599 and 5500–5574. 15 (Nos. 4578/81/89, 5511/24/29/34/35/45/55/59/60/68/72/74) were fitted with auto apparatus in 1953 to enable them to run push-pull trains on South Wales lines with auto trailers.
They often are referred to as Small Prairie Class tank locomotives.
Table of orders and numbers:
Year 	Quantity	Lot No.	Locomotive numbers 	Notes
1927 	30 	242 	4574–4599, 5500–5504	
1927 	20 	249 	5505–5524 	
1928 	20 	251 	5525–5544 	
1928–29	30 	253 	5545–5574 	
==Preservation==
11 members of the class have been preserved:
Number and name	Home 	Status 	Image
4588 	Peak Rail 	Has run in preservation, but currently out of service requiring overhaul. It was sold from the Dartmouth Steam Railway in 2015 and is now owned by Mike Thompson and based at Peak Rail. 	
5521/L.150 	Epping Ongar Railway 	Built in 1927, withdrawn by BR and sent to Woodham Brothers scrapyard, having run just over 1,000,000 miles (1,600,000 km). Saved with classmates 4561 and 5542 by the West Somerset Railway Association, but was sold with 5542 to repay purchase debts and to fund restoration of 4561. Bought by Richard and William Parker in 1980, it was restored at the Flour Mill, Forest of Dean from 2004 to 2007. It was featured in the 2007 Wolsztyn Parade, then travelled to Budapest, Hungary where it worked intermittently with MAV Nosztalgia, including piloting the Orient Express. It returned to Poland in 2008, operating suburban services from Wroclaw to Jelcz Laskowice. After a third appearance at the 2009 Wolsztyn Parade, it was returned to England. In May 2013, it was painted in London Transport livery and numbered L.150 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Metropolitan line. Returned to traffic in 2021 following overhaul.	
5526 	South Devon Railway 	On loan to the Gwili Railway. Boiler ticket expires in 2027. 	
5532 	Llangollen Railway 	Under restoration. 	
5538 	The Flour Mill, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire	Under restoration. Previously displayed in Barry Island. 	
5539 	Barry Tourist Railway 	Under restoration. Previously part of the Barry Ten until 2006. 	
5541 	Dean Forest Railway 	Currently operational. Boiler ticket expires in 2024. 	
5542 	South Devon Railway 	Currently operational at the South Devon Railway. This locomotive has visited several preserved railways throughout her preservation career. Boiler ticket expired in 2022. 	
5552 	Bodmin and Wenford Railway 	Has run in preservation and is currently under overhaul. 	
5553 	Peak Rail 	Owned by Pete Waterman. Last steam engine to leave Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales, in January 1990. Moved in 2015 from Crewe Heritage Centre for overhaul. Currently operational, boiler ticket expires 2031. 	
5572 	Didcot Railway Centre 	On static display awaiting overhaul. 	
Two members of the class have also briefly been out on the mainline: 5521 and 5572. 5521 was shipped to Poland to take part in the Wolsztyn Parade, as well as briefly piloting the Orient Express. 5572 made an appearance at an open day in Reading as part of the GWR150 celebrations in 1985, arriving under its own power. When returning to Didcot again under its own power the engine also hauled the replica broad gauge locomotive "Iron Duke" alongside the preserved GWR Railcar W22W.
==Models and toys==
Lima made a model of the 4575 class, number 4589, in GWR green, also a British Railways black-liveried version, running number 5574. Bachmann Branchline have for many years made various versions of the 4575 Class.
== Gallery ==
File:26020159096 e59aec63a5 b.jpg
File:14905754707 e76be4ea1d b.jpg
File:Norton Fitzwarren Platform GWR A28 autotrailer 178 and 4575 class 5542.jpg|GWR Autocoach No.178 is propelled to Norton Fitzwarren station by auto-fitted 4575 Class No. 5542
File:GWR Prairie Class 4500 N° 5526.jpg
File:5526.jpg
==See also==
*GWR 4400 Class
*GWR 4500 Class
*List of GWR standard classes with two outside cylinders
==External links==
*4400 / 4500 tank classes
*Class 4575 Details at Rail UK
Category:2-6-2T locomotives
Category:2-6-2 steam locomotives
Category:2-6-2T steam locomotives
Category:2-6-2 locomotives
Category:Standard gauge locomotives
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:Tank locomotives
Category:Swindon Works locomotives
Category:4 foot 8 1⁄2 inch gauge
Category:Mixed-traffic locomotives
Category:Built in 1927
Category:Built in 1928
Category:Built in 1929
Category:Great Western Railway locomotives
Category:Locomotives
Category:Standard gauge steam locomotives of Great Britain
Category:GWR Standard Class Locomotives