GWR 4700 Class

The GWR 4700 Class was a class of nine 2-8-0 steam locomotives designed by George Jackson Churchward and introduced in 1919 for heavy mixed-traffic work. They were meant mainly for fast freight but also hauled heavy holiday expresses in summer, and were nicknamed the Night Owls because they ran goods trains at night and stood simmering by day. The prototype, number 4700, was built at Swindon Works in May 1919, was the last design by Churchward, and was rebuilt in 1921 with a larger Swindon No. 7 boiler. Eight more, numbered 4701 to 4708, followed with detail differences. Their size limited the routes they could use, so no more were built, and none was preserved.