BR 5101 Class Large Prairie 5153 Steam Locomotive

BR 5101 Class Large Prairie 5153 Steam Locomotive

1:76 scale model produced by Hornby. This model is ready-to-run straight out of the box and would make a excellent addition to any model railway collection.

Features:

• Analogue DC Model
• This model mainly operates in Britain
• Decorated in BR company markings
• Best suited to 438mm radius curves

Details

The GWR 5101 Class is a quintessential British steam locomotive designed by Charles Collett for the Great Western Railway (GWR) and introduced in 1929 to handle suburban passenger services and light freight duties. Built at Swindon Works between 1929 and 1949, a total of 140 locomotives were produced, each featuring a 2-6-2T “Large Prairie” wheel arrangement that offered excellent acceleration and stability on stop-start commuter routes.

These versatile tank engines were widely used across the Western Region, particularly on London suburban lines out of Paddington, as well as in Wales and the West Country. They proved reliable and capable performers, helping to move commuters and local goods traffic efficiently through the steam era up to the mid-1960s. Withdrawals began as diesel multiple units and modern traction replaced steam, with the last of the class retired by 1965.