Steam Locomotive 4110

Ex BR GWR loco class 5101

Class 2-6-2T GWR Prairie tank

engine designed for mixed traffic work

Heritage & Preserved Steam Locomotive Engines

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A history of steam locomotive 4110

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Nostalgic Steam Train Photos from the 1960s

Email: chem55555@hotmail.com

[Author and photographer © Dr Phil Brown PhD (plus help from AI these days), page updated May10th 2026]

Ex GWR 5101 Class 2-6-2T Large Prairie tank engine 4110 and British Railways, ex GWR/BR built at Swindon Works 1936 to a post Churchwood 3100 Class development design by Collett.

Technical detail specifications of locomotive 4110: Boiler pressure of 4110: 200 lbf/sq.in., Weight of 4110: 78.45 tons, Wheel diameter of 4110: 3' 2'', 5' 8", 3' 8", Valve gear of 4110: Stephenson piston valves, Cylinders of 4110 (diameter x stroke): 18" x 30" (O), Tractive effort of 4110: 24300 lbf., Power classification of 4110: Class D 4MT, Restriction of 4110 yellow

Need pictures of ex GWR preserved steam locomotive 4110

BUT, see also

BR 4110 Ex GWR/BR 5101 Class 2-6-2T Prairie large tank engine

BR 4144 Ex GWR/BR 5101 Class 2-6-2T Prairie large tank engine

What ex GWR steam locomotive 4110 would look like, stationary or in action!

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A history of steam locomotive 4110

GWR 4110 is one of the most interesting survivors of the GWR 5101 “Large Prairie” Class—a 2‑6‑2T tank engine built for intensive suburban and banking work. Its story spans Swindon, the Midlands, Barry Scrapyard, multiple preservation groups, and finally a full return to steam in 2023 after more than half a century out of traffic.

Below is a complete, structured, fully‑grounded history using the search results you triggered.

GWR 4110, built at Swindon in 1936, worked tunnel‑banking at Severn Tunnel Junction and then spent 26 years on Birmingham suburban services. Withdrawn in 1965, it became the 100th locomotive to leave Barry Scrapyard. After decades of stalled restoration attempts, it was purchased by the Dartmouth Steam Railway, restored at the East Somerset Railway, and returned to steam in 2023—its first steaming since 1965.

1. Construction and Design of tank locomotive 4110 (1936)

• Builder: GWR Swindon Works
• Built: 1936
• Class: 5101 Class “Large Prairie” 2‑6‑2T
• Designer: Charles Collett
• Role: Medium‑sized tank engine for suburban passenger work and banking duties
• Boiler: Standard No. 2, 200 psi
• Tractive effort: 24,300 lbf
• Cylinders: 18 × 30 in
• Water capacity: 2,000 gallons
• Coal capacity: 4 tons

2. GWR & BR Service Career of tank locomotive 4110 (1936–1965)

Initial allocation

• Severn Tunnel Junction (October 1936) for tunnel banking duties.

Main working life of tank locomotive 4110

• Transferred two months later to the Wolverhampton district, where it spent most of the next 26 years.
• Worked intensive suburban services from Birmingham Snow Hill and Moor Street to:
  • Leamington Spa
  • Stratford‑upon‑Avon
  • Warwickshire routes generally

Withdrawal of tank locomotive 4110

• Withdrawn 1965 under British Railways.

3. Barry Scrapyard Era (1965–1979) of tank locomotive 4110

• Sold to Woodham Brothers, Barry.
• Remained there until 1979.
• Became the 100th locomotive to leave Barry Scrapyard, a notable milestone in the preservation movement.

4. Early Preservation Attempts of tank locomotive 4110 (1979–2018)

1979–1990s: Southall Railway Centre

• Rescued by the Great Western Preservation Group.
• Moved to Southall Railway Centre.

Tyseley Locomotive Works

• Later moved to Tyseley for restoration.
• Only limited work was completed before the locomotive was put up for sale to fund other projects.

West Somerset Railway (2015–2018)

• Purchased by the West Somerset Railway in 2015.
• Intended for a 5‑year restoration programme at Minehead.
• Little progress was made; 4110 was again put up for sale in 2018.

5. Dartmouth Steam Railway Purchase of tank locomotive 4110 (2019)

• Bought by the Dartmouth Steam Railway in 2019.
• A deal was arranged with the East Somerset Railway (ESR) to carry out the full restoration.
• Agreement: after restoration, 4110 would operate on the ESR for three years before moving to its permanent home on the Dartmouth line.

6. Restoration at the East Somerset Railway of tank locomotive 4110 (2020–2023)

Move to Cranmore

• Arrived at Cranmore (ESR) in 2020.

Restoration progress of tank locomotive 4110

• 2021: Work reported on schedule for a 2023 return to steam.
• 2022: First fire lit in the boiler since June 1965.
• 2023: Completed test runs and returned to steam, running under its own power for the first time in over 50 years.

Additional confirmation

• ESR updates confirm the same milestones: boiler steamed (2022), assembly completed, and first movements under steam in 2023.

7. Technical Summary (Class‑standard)

8. Why 4110 Matters

For your heritage‑focused work, 4110 is significant because:

• It is one of only eight preserved 5101 Class locomotives.
• It represents the late‑period Collett suburban tank—a backbone of GWR local services.
• Its long, complex preservation journey (Barry → Southall → Tyseley → WSR → Dartmouth → ESR) makes it a case study in the challenges of heritage locomotive rescue.
• Its 2023 return to steam makes it one of the most recently revived Barry survivors.

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My Archive Steam Photos from the 1960s

Rail holidays in Continental Europe Luxury train travel bookings Railway tours in France Germany Austria Switzerland America USA Canada Trans-continental journeys by luxury train great steam trains of Europe railway steam tours in Europe railway tours of Spain Sweden Finland Norway Great Railway Journeys Rail Discovery Trips Railway Holidays to France, Italy and Spain from locomotive 4110 Booking tickets for Great Railway Journey luxury Rail Trip holidays Train travel in Europe Rail holidays from locomotive 4110 to the USA & Canada luxury train through the Rocky Mountain Canadian rail railway holidays through the Rockies US Cities by train from locomotive 4110  Continental rail holidays to France Germany Italy Austria Switzerland Glacier Express Great Railway Journeys Rail Discovery Trips Holidays from locomotive 4110 from Eurostar to Paris Brussels Avignon Turin Turino Rome Roma Florence Firenze TGV fast trains Railway travel holidays special steam excursions from locomotive 4110 great steam heritage line and offers luxury Pullman coach dining trains locomotive 4110 Travelling by train always seems a pleasure, especially if through wonderful scenery  to locomotive 4110 in England, Scotland, Wales or on holiday in the rest of Europe! The railway trip from locomotive 4110 involves seeing or travelling behind a 'real' steam locomotive in action and there is nothing like the sight and sounds of a steam train to invoke feelings of nostalgia in some of us to locomotive 4110 even more luxury by having a special trip out on a steam dining train! England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland top class hotels in locomotive 4110 dining out travel tours top tourist destinations tourist information on locomotive 4110 weekend breaks mini-breaks family holidays restaurants touring coach trips from locomotive 4110 continental tours cruise ships pleasure cruises summer breaks spring breaks continental winter breaks European winter holidays spring holidays summer holidays European Rail tours Railway travel holidays special steam excursions from locomotive 4110 A great steam heritage line and offers luxury Pullman coach dining trains European Rail tours US and Canadian Railway travel holidays special steam excursions to locomotive 4110 A great steam heritage line and offers luxury Pullman coach dining trains Travelling by train from locomotive 4110 always seems a pleasure, especially if through wonderful scenery either in England, Scotland, Wales or on holiday in the rest of the railways of Europe! The railway trip involves seeing or travelling behind a 'real' steam locomotive or heritage diesel in action on a special trip from locomotive 4110 Booking Eurostar Continental Rail Travel Tour Tickets Stuttgart Brussels Eurostar Brussels from locomotive 4110 by TGV to Ebbsfleet International, Ashford International Stratford International, St Pancras International Paris Gare du Nord Paris Gare de Lyon Paris Gare de L'est Paris Gare Montparnasse by Eurostar from locomotive 4110 London to Paris, Eurostar London - Brussels Eurostar London to Lille deals bargain city breaks Great Railway Journey holidays in Italy, Spain and France by TGV booking from locomotive 4110

Good trainspotting 'TRAINSPOTS' Good trainspotting and photographic locations  Barnetby Station, North Lincolnshire  *  Carlisle Station  *  Clapham Junction Station, London  *  Colton Junction, south of York  * Coventry *  Crewe Station  *  Doncaster Station, South Yorkshire  * Grantham * Hellifield station - Carlisle to Settle line * Lancaster station  * Leicester station * Newcastle Station  *  Northallerton Station  *  Nuneaton Station  * Peterborough *  Sheffield Station  *  Stratford Station, East London * Tamworth * Warrington Bank Quay station * Wigan North Western - WCML *  York Station

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INDEX of My IMAGES OF PRESERVED STEAM LOCOMOTIVES

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