GWR 5700 Class Gallery

The instantly recognisable and remarkably versatile GWR 5700 Class holds an undisputed place in railway history as one of the most numerous classes of steam locomotive ever built in the UK. Designed by Charles Collett and introduced in 1929, an astonishing fleet of 863 of these iconic "pannier tanks" was produced between Swindon Works and various outside contractors until 1950. Engineered to handle everything from heavy shunting to light branch line passenger duties, they formed the ubiquitous backbone of the Great Western network, with several even finding a second career with London Transport well into the 1960s. Today, an impressive 16 of these indefatigable workhorses have been preserved, continuing to form the reliable bedrock of heritage operations across the country.
 

This gallery celebrates a classic British tank engine, turning the spotlight on a timeless workhorse that remains a definitive symbol of Western steam.