SECOND HAND N GAUGE MODELS #3 -- GWR PRAIRIE TANK (No. 4523)

Great Western '2-6-2 Prairie Tank' No 4523
Beginning to replenish my N Gauge stock now and every once if a while there is a bargain to be found. While I am not targeting any particular period or region I have always liked the Great Western Railway stock and it does allow a wide variety too. A GWR Railcar is definitely on the wish list for the future, but earlier this year I was able to purchase this little Dapol 2-6-2 Prairie Tank together with some Great Western Coaches, all boxed and in good condition overall, so all I had to do was get the loco engine running. 

Luckily for me a nice clean, some oil in the right places, and checked all the connections intact and we had it up and running in under an hour, albeit in a cradle first we then had to try it on our test track. Great Western No. 4523 Dapol model in it's original box and intact, having cleaned it up it's now had a nice long slow run on my test track at home, should fit well with the Great Western coaches I've already got and also I have recently acquired an Auto Coach too although looking for a GWR Pannier Tank or something similar to run with that in a push pull mode so that will be another for the future along with the railcar / flying banana, watch this space. 
45xx Class Brief History
Designed by George J. Churchward.
Total Number Built 75
Introduced 1906. Churchward development of the 4400 Class with larger wheels and increased boiler pressure. Earlier locos subsequently fitted with super-heaters. Classification 4MT.
Class developed further by Collett as 4575 Class.

These tank engines were designed for branch line and carriage pilot duties. They were to be found at many sheds in the West Country. St Blazey in Cornwall had eleven locos in its allocation, just under a third of the sheds total allocation.

Number Series 4500-4574 which includes our specific model was built at the Great Western Railway Swindon Works in 1909 and assigned to Truro Shed. The first withdrawal was No. 4531 in February 1950 from Plymouth Laira shed and the last loco of the class was No. 4569, withdrawn in August 1964 from Swindon shed. 

Preservation
It appears that only three of the class still exist, two of them survivors from Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales. All of them have run in preservation but, currently in 2019, none are operational.

No. 4555
4555 was bought in working order from British Railways by Patrick Whitehouse and fellow Talyllyn Railway member Pat Garland, so has never had to be restored. Originally working on the Dart Valley Railway, she later moved to the Dartmouth Steam Railway. Currently named "Warrior", she last worked in 2007. Under restoration since 2014, including a new boiler being built at Tyseley Loco Works.

No. 4561
This locomotive left Woodham Brothers in September 1975. It is currently undergoing an extensive overhaul on the West Somerset Railway, having been out of service since 1998.

No. 4566
Currently stored out of service on the Severn Valley Railway awaiting an overhaul, this locomotive left Woodham Brothers in August 1970. It returned to service in late 2006 following an overhaul and after several years painted in Great Western green, was repainted into BR unlined black with the early crest for the first time in preservation. It was withdrawn from service in January 2017 following the expiry of her boiler certificate.


Motive Power Details
Weight: Loco 57 tons 0 cwt
Driving Wheel: 4' 7"
Boil Press: 200lb/sq in Su
Cylinders: Two 17" x 24" (outside)
Valve Gear: Stephenson (piston valves)