History
These large tank locomotives, with their 4 feet 7 inch (1398 mm) wheels and 17 inch × 24 inch (127mm × 610 mm) cylinders were capable of working trains on the main line. They followed on from George Armstrong's 1016 Class built from 1867, themselves derived from the earlier 302 Class of Joseph Armstrong, and were perpetuated by his successor William Dean until 1881. Modernised saddle tank locomotives of similar size were then produced in the 1813 Class.
The first six were built with side tanks. The following locomotives had saddle tanks covering their boilers and fireboxes, but from 1874 longer saddle tank extending to the front of the smokebox were the norm. All the earlier locomotives were eventually fitted with these larger tanks. Most were reconstructed with pannier tanks from 1911 onwards.
The first locomotives had just a spectacle plate to give protection for the crew, but then small cabs, open at the back, were fitted. Later on most of the surviving locomotives were given full cabs so that there was protection when running in reverse.
Other changes to various locomotives over their long lives were Belpaire fireboxes, enlarged coal bunkers, and even superheaters. One or two were fitted with spark-arresting chimneys. 21 were fitted for working autotrains.
Read more about this topic: GWR 1076 Class
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