2-6-2T Class 45xx/ 4575/ 55xx 'Small Prairie' GWR Profile and Models

2-6-2T Class 45xx/ 4575/ 55xx 'Small Prairie' GWR

No 4566 at the Severn Valley Railway in August 2007. © Tony Hisgett

The GWR 4500 Class (also known as the Small Prairie) was a mixed traffic locomotive, used mainly on branch lines across the GWR network. They were based on the earlier 4400 Class but featured larger driving wheels and altered wheel spacing which allowed for a higher top speed of 60mph in service. The first batch was notable for being the last steam locos built at Stafford Road Works in Wolverhampton, with one of this batch being the final Wolverhampton-built steam loco in service with BR. Further examples were built at Swindon. Collett later developed additional versions of the Small Prairie in the form of the 4575/ 55xx class. Three 45xx locos are preserved, with 11 of the later 4575/ 55xx locos also in preservation.

(Information provided via Wikipedia)

Type of Locomotive

Steam

Builder

Wolverhampton Works
Swindon Works

Build Dates

45xx: 1906 to 1924
4575/ 55xx: 1927 to 1929

Total Built

45xx: 75
575/ 55xx: 100

Tractive Effort

21,250 lbf

Top Speed

60 mph

Wheel Configuration

2-6-2T

Operated By

Great Western Railway
British Railways

Main Duties

Mixed Traffic

In Service Until

1964

Surviving Locos

45xx: 3
4575/ 55xx: 11

 

Products awaiting categorisation

Scale Brand Image Construction Type DCC Capability Product Code Product Title Livery
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) Churchward Models No image available Requires assembly Not set 45XXCW
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45XX 2-6-2 Steam locomotive kit Awaiting Categorisation
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) Dapol C062 2-6-2 BR Prairie steam loco plastic kit Requires assembly Unpowered C062
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2-6-2 BR Prairie steam loco plastic kit Unpainted
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) Dapol C089 2-6-2 GWR Prairie steam loco plastic kit Requires assembly Unpowered C089
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2-6-2 GWR Prairie steam loco plastic kit Unpainted
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) Keyser (K's) L25 GWR Class 55xx 2-6-2 Prairie Tank kit Requires assembly Not set L25
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GWR Class 55xx 2-6-2 Prairie Tank kit Awaiting Categorisation
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) Mitchell Design No image available Requires assembly Not set 4575MD
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GWR 4575/55XX Class 2-6-2t Steam locomotive kit Awaiting Categorisation
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) Samhongsa Co. Ltd. RTR102 GWR Class 55xx 2-6-2T in unpainted brass - limited edition of 300 RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled Not set RTR102
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GWR Class 55xx 2-6-2T in unpainted brass - limited edition of 300 Awaiting Categorisation
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) Tower Models No image available RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled Not set 55XXRTR
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Class 55xx 2-6-2T in unpainted brass Awaiting Categorisation
O Gauge (1:43 Scale) Mitchell Design 45xxMD Class 45xx Small Prairie Tank Kit Requires assembly Not set 45xxMD
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Class 45xx Small Prairie Tank Kit Awaiting Categorisation
O Gauge (1:43 Scale) Tower Models TBL7 Class 4575 Small Prairie 2-6-2T in unpainted brass with black chassis RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled Not set TBL7
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Class 4575 Small Prairie 2-6-2T in unpainted brass with black chassis Unpainted