The 48XX and 58xx was designed to replace the earlier 19th. Century George Armstrong Wolverhampton 517 class. Charles Collett improved the design with new higher pressure boilers and an improved cab. A total of 75 14xx were built with auto gear for working with trailer cars and when introduced were numbered 48xx to 4874 with 20 non auto fitted 58xx class constructed for general purpose traffic. The first locomotives entered service in 1932, with most running into the 1960s. The 14xx with autocoach meant the locomotive could be controlled from there which negated the requirement to run the locomotive round at the end of the journey. This format was known as a push-pull train. After the war experiments with oil firing of the 28xx class would be renumbered in the 48xx class, therefore the original 48xx class were renumbered 1400 to 1474. Four members of the class have been preserved 1420, 1442. 1450 and 1466.
Model
1:76 Scale model of a 4800 Class Steam Locomotive decorated in GWR livery. This model features lots of expertly applied details as based on the prototype, a high level of body detail and excellent running characteristics.