12/02/2025
~Old Swindon: 1905~
Date: 1905
Photograph: GWRSLS Collection - Unknown Author
Location: Swindon
With recently purchased photographs, arriving into our collection: we thought to share a rather unique prospective from 1905 of Swindon Railway Station.
With a Dean 3031 [Achilles Class] on the left in the bay platform, a class built between 1892 to 1899; with the first members of the class built as the 3001 class as 2-2-2, being converted to standard gauge in mid-1892, at the end of broad gauge running on the Great Western Railway. A further 22 were built in late 1891 and early 1892, this time as standard gauge engines. The class were gradually withdrawn between 1908 and 1915, with the last survivor, no. 3074 Princess Helena, being withdrawn in December 1916
In the middle of shot, is an unknown number GWR 7 Armstrong in the dock road.
However, the most rarest in shot, is possibly the only known photograph of GWR 2602 class 'Kruger' at work, as the design by William Dean and Churchward from 1899 to 1903, however it was an experimental design. They had outside frames for the six-coupled driving wheels but inside frames for the leading wheels. Initially, a distinctive visual feature was a large saddle-shaped sandbox over the first ring of the boiler. The class had two prototypes: No. 2601, which was a 4-6-0, while No. 2602 was a 2-6-0. These were built in 1899, and Nos. 2603-2610 followed later up to 1903, all 2-6-0. Though Dean was officially still in charge, Churchward's influence is evident in the rugged design. Their perhaps ironic nickname was after Paul Kruger, the Boer War leader defeated by Lord Roberts in 1900.
However the Krugers were not successful; the boiler's high pressure and 3 ft 6 in long combustion chamber gave trouble[1] and the long 28-inch stroke of the inside cylinders led to fractures of the solid crank axles. The class was thus short-lived, and most were withdrawn around 1906. Many were broken up and rebuilt as 2600 class Aberdares numbered 2602–2610.
However, finding a photograph of these locomotives at work is rare and priceless; we are very humbled to have these in our Societies collection.
~GWRSLS
Steam - Museum of the Great Western Railway Swindon Libraries & Information Service Swindon Borough Council EverythingGWR
