Sent new to Bristol Bath Road shed in November 1927. 5514 was allocated to Westbury in the mid-1930s, but returned to Bristol where it remained until 1955. At the end of January that year 5514 was reallocated to Gloucester shed, where it remained until withdrawn in November 1960.
The models will be highly detailed to the specific period with the following features:
- Die cast metal chassis and cylinders with working vacuum pump,
- Die cast wheels with steel tyres
- Brake shoes in ABS plastic
- Two styles of sand boxes in ABS
- 5 pole skew wound precision motor
- Sprung driving wheel and pony trucks
- Front and rear pony wheel trucks to operate on a cam system to allow the model to traverse R2 (40.5”radius) curves
- Die cast pivoted coupling and connecting rods
- Two versions of smokebox door (one with fixings for B.R. number plate)
- The cab roof to be easily removed (for adding a crew) by means of small magnets
- Working cab doors in ABS
- Chimney, short and tall safety valve casings and whistles to be turned metal parts
- Wire handrails with stanchions in metal
- Sprung metal buffers and screw link couplings
- Full backhead detail with reversing lever in ABS
- Coal load in bunker
- Flickering firebox glow
Compact but powerful and highly capable the small version of the Churchward 2-6-2 prairie tank engine designs were intended for passenger and good services on the sharply graded branch lines of the west country. The 45xx was developed from the initial smaller-wheeled 44xx class, an extra 6 inches wheel diameter giving the standard design a better speed performance for mainline running without compromising on hill-climbing abilities. A 45xx is quite capable of rapidly reaching and running at 60 mph with 4 coaches, making them able to keep out of the way of expresses on provincial city suburban and mainline stopping passenger services.
A development of the Churchward 4500 Class with larger side tanks and increased water capacity. 100 engines were built between 1927 and 1929 at Swindon Works, continuing the 4500 numbering series from 4575 to 4599, followed by 5500-5574.
Under British Railways ownership fifteen locomotives were fitted with auto apparatus in 1953 to enable them to run push-pull trains on South Wales lines with auto trailers.
Classified as 3MT under British Railways the class survived until the end of steam services, being replaced by the diesel railcars and diesel locomotives being introduced in the late 1950s.
Eleven of the Collet 4775/55xx class engines have been preserved, including 5572 which was one of the auto-fitted engines and 5542 which has been equipped with GWR auto train control gear in preservation.
Sure-footed, economical on coal and possessed of a potent reserve of power the Churchward and Collett '45s' remain ideal locomotives for heritage railways, easily hauling 5-6 coach trains over the challenging hilly routes the engines were designed for in 1904.