Great Western Tank Engines

A Great Western tank engine at work is an iconic image, the GWR produced hundreds of them as the backbone of their services in steam days, from shunting, branch line trains, heavy coal trains or even suburban trains the Great Western tank engine was a do anything machine that could be seen anywhere in the western region.
This video features footage of 11 classes of great western tank engines on multiple heritage railways around the UK.
So sit back and enjoy the sight and sounds of these iconic machines at work!

[@Stackedwithcash]

So beautiful to see such mechanical art in action. The best steam locomotives were those made in Britain. Hands down

[@HMSHOOD1920]

Y’all had some good ones. But we had the Challenger, T1, Big Boy and many others that far surpassed yours.

[@whitetrainman]

cant agree with you their, i quite the looks of the british locomotives, but i prefer the american stuff, just the power the american ones have and the presence they create

[@jakubsabosz2933]

Overexaggerated, like everything from usa.

[@jonesinator47]

British, American, German and Russian steam locomotives are the most beautiful imho

[@GK-yh1yc]

You say power the 9fs were insanely powerful

[@ericredstar5679]

*NOW THAT'S THE GREAT WESTERN WAY*

[@jamiethedinosaur869]

There are two ways of doing things; the Great Western way and the wrong way.

[@ImalsoaMercenary0105]

Whenever I see two engines on here I can’t help but see Duck and Oliver

[@UA-51]

6:40 That banker must’ve been camera shy ☺️

[@Railroadracer49]

Like duck says there are 2 ways of doing things the great Western way and the wrong way

[@tyhik9338]

That's right man

[@jiansun9545]

Hahaha

[@joelcartagena953]

Before Duck came to the Island of Sodor, he worked on the Mainland. On the Great Western Railway. Duck always works hard and always does things The Great Western Way.

[@emperorredabilitysfollowin2753]

Oh dear

[@TheNotLetterH]

You’re doing it the wrong way

[@StroudleyStudios]

0:45 and 7:55 9:00 I like these whistles

[@IroncladInSteam4007]

ThomasTankEngine76 I’ll figure you’ve put them into Trainz at some point then 😄

[@potterzebra]

I am reading about the history of steam locomotives (Johnathan Glancy, "Giants of Steam" Atlantic Books 2012) and learned that there were real "tank" engines (water tanks), and that Thomas was based on a book about them. I rode steam trains as a young child in the US, and as a teenage tourist in England in 1960. This video is a wonderful reminder of the era before diesel electric trains, and of the chuf chuf chuf and the whistles of the steam locomotives that used to roll through my hometown.

[@savio9944]

Duck and Oliver pushing the passenger car :D

[@therailwaymen2203]

That’s how you detect an American Railroader, Lady’s and Gentleman

[@johanogrenschonbeck3057]

Now it’s provd duck and oliver is alive today 😇👍

[@UA-51]

10:45-13:00 That is a great shot for a passenger train. Also that London Trans. Pannier..More like a bucking bounce than a waddle 😏🙂

[@jamiethedinosaur869]

Awdry’s model had some sort of balance issue that made it wobble while he was running it; his kids called it “Duck” as a result.

[@JasonElser]

Absolutely WONDERFUL!!! Just listening to the sounds of these tank engines is so soothing to my soul. I truly hope I can one day travel to the UK and get to see some of these sights 1st hand. British steam just has a class and style that much of our locomotives here in the states lack. The British locomotives are so elegant and proper in fit, form, and function. The pride of the workers shows so well in each locomotive.

[@DanielW3440]

Finally an American who appreciates the design that went into British steam locomotives.

[@redyoshi3997]

Great to see ya duck and oliver

[@TenderEnginesDontShunt]

Didnt know steam could be released from coaches, i learn something new about stema locomotives everyday

[@TenderEnginesDontShunt]

The pannier tank engines wheels were moving together both lined up perfectly at 18:22

[@AlexKravchenko-uo3ds]

The 5700 Class 0-6-0PT is arguably the sheer backbone of Great Western tank engines, and factually one of the most numerous tank locomotives in the history of British steam, with about 16 in preservation. My favourite tank locomotive, along with the Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST.

[@Rosie6857]

I bet you can't give the numbers in the order in which they were built. There were so many of them (863) that they broke the rules of the GWR's hallowed numbering system.

[@robinforrest7680]

Double headed 57xx. Awesome. Is it that I've been out of the country so long but I'm sure when I left the UK at the end of the '80s the light railway order required a maximum speed of 25mph. Some of these beauties (notably the red LT 57XX) look like they were way over the limit! Amazing video and great to see some old friends in there. Thankyou ! !!

[@DanielW3440]

The speedo's broke guvnor.

[@MrNoUsername]

There are two ways of doing things. The Great Western way or the wrong way. I'm Great Western and- Don't we know it!

[@johnsplayworld2402]

14:07 the red pannier tank is really woblling as he moves like duck

[@LuckyTrucker1]

Many thanks for posting , as Bob says the mainstay of GWRs branch line fleet . A fine collection of shots , I particularly liked seeing the pannier tanks . Thank you .

[@JasonElser]

It is amazing to me how here in the states our locos just had to work... Looks were secondary. The locos there were built to work without fail, but they had to have style, class, and elegance in appearance. No rough edges, no appliances out in the open... The locos there are PROPER steam locos compared to our rough and tumble locos.

[@robinforrest7680]

It's not because I'm British but I can't deny that no other nations come close as far as aesthetics are concerned, they really are gorgeous

[@petergrossett6763]

Jason Elser I love US steam, and German,French Chinese. I love all steam. GWR are special, they got it right first.

[@T3ki1a_]

@@robinforrest7680 well sorry but France was near beyond you when it comes to style, there was also a Belgian Steam Engine the Type 12 which looked goergous

[@robinforrest7680]

@@T3ki1a_ Safe a few notable exceptions French locos have a lot more external pipework and general clutter than British ones. images.app.goo.gl/K7HCqTEBFY16jkzS6 images.app.goo.gl/LNf8q4NiaZj7Tc7f9 images.app.goo.gl/3GFoGDVLstAfsuFG9

[@T3ki1a_]

@@robinforrest7680 I love the 2nd one, looks like a nice painting. Maybe was red or green. Looks beautiful in b n' w

[@robmasterman]

A wonderful compilation of these mainstay of GWR Branch lines JG....Great production, a very enjoyable watch...Bob

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

I’m a massive fan of great western railway because I have a few tank engines on the mainline and visiting the seven valley railway

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

Looks like 1501 is trying to recreate herself as the express tank engine Robert

[@kellyashfordtrains2642]

I'm a fan of God's Wonderful Railway.

[@JohnPW22]

Thoroughly enjoying watching this on my large TV! Many thanks for sharing this. Wonderful footage!

[@bendythegamingdevildarlin4572]

While I was watching this video, I couldn't stop thinking about Thomas and Friends.

[@owenmeschter9888]

This was a wonderful video. Fantastic shots of the engines and their trains and the sound is amazing and surreal. Truly the best way to show these engines in action, astounding work

[@karenfan010]

and that’s the origin of duck and oliver

[@therailwaymen2203]

I love how almost all the top comments are talking about Duck and Oliver

[@tinasheridan6395]

There are 2 ways of doing things the wrong way or the Great Western way

[@joelcartagena953]

Before Duck came to the Island of Sodor, he worked on the Mainland. On the Great Western Railway. Duck always works hard and he always does things the Great Western Way.

[@joelcartagena953]

Oliver and Toad used to work on the Great Western Railway. Oliver never tired of telling Toad of how they first came to the Island of Sodor.

[@trainboy00]

Byootiful video

[@gravelor78]

Duck fans are screaming

[@Bruno.Trains]

That was Awesome! Thanx for posting.

[@alastairhopkins245]

What is the sign at 1:42??? Looks like a "No Entry" sign.

[@duckman5642]

superb, thankyou.

[@user-yf4gx9lw6c]

This is so good I would have payed to watch you should really be proud of your work

[@charliehorse_91]

Did anyone else notice the tractor going backwards at mach10 at 18:16 lol

[@omarvazquez4075]

Duck and Oliver

[@Auraxium]

Fantastic compilation. I just recently acquired a little 14xx for my 00 gauge collection. Cheers

[@TankEngine75]

What Brand That Made The 14xx?

[@Auraxium]

@@TankEngine75 It's a Hornby model

[@TankEngine75]

@@Auraxium Ok

[@parkerproductions4546]

As a GWR guy, I thoroughly enjoyed this! Question: For sound, did you use an external microphone or just the mic from the camera?

[@YasaIsuruOfficial]

Are there thomas the tank engine ?

[@danielcreed2328]

How come British steam locomotives have high pitched whistles and don't whistle as often as the ones in America?

[@michellejohnson9662]

My favorite is the GWR14xx

[@DragonGaming73]

Where was the London transport engine filmed too? Along the trailway I’d be interested in visiting there

[@tavtwo8581]

That's the Avon Valley Railway in Gloucestershire, just outside of Bristol. It's a lovely little line, well worth a visit!

[@edward2341]

I need to know why in thomas and friends duck is called duck?

[@milkythomas9029]

Cause in the model series they said he waddles (I think)

[@redyoshi3997]

His real name is Montague but they say that he had a waddle.

[@PeterBriggs01]

awesome video

[@ShortPuff]

I do gotta ask, is the GWR Still up and running to this day at England?

[@csrmodelling4259]

Yes and no. The old GWR was absorbed into BR in 1947, and they abolished steam engines in the 60s. The locos in this video are heritage locos working on heritage lines. A modern day GWR exists, but is in no way related to the old GWR except that they are both railways in the west of England and South Wales.

[@SeatedViper]

Nice!!!

[@daveday5507]

A great collection, but ex GWR would be more appropriate. Most of these were taken in recentimes on heritage railways (the Bodmin to Wenford being one example). From a modelling point of view they can be very misleading. GWR lamps were red not white. Locos carried their numbers on the buffer beams.

[@charliemoir5591]

The Prairie is my favourite type of steam engine. Sadly, the 10 year boiler ticket ran out on SVR's one earlier this year. Also, Erlestoke manor, one of my favourite steam engine's 10 year boiler ticket is running out at the end of his year. 😣

[@AlexKravchenko-uo3ds]

Large or Small Prairie?

[@MrB590]

First one is Oliver

[@tyhik9338]

Oliver and Duck are these your brothers?

[@airwolfthehelicopter]

It's duck and his friends in real life

[@DanInHisDen]

This was useful

[@bcoltrainfan88]

(6:42) So smoke in there

[@Creeperboy099]

Oliver and Duck in real life

[@TankEngine75]

Creeperboy and friends Yeah The 57xxs Are Such Powerfull And Suscessfull Tank Engines

[@IanthePikachu]

With a guest appearance by Toad

[@tobythetramproductions]

Who else came here just for the Thomas characters

[@trains6568]

DonaldDouglas Oliver11 me

[@metroid477]

Sixteen DNW Duck!

[@harveythecraneengineproduc663]

Me

[@thomasthetrain5317]

Sixteen DNW its a shame the tank engine Thomas was based on was scrapped :(

[@diegrunee2lokomotive899]

Sixteen DNW me

[@allenbonares6777]

never seen a coach with smokes

[@rogertaylor1190]

good job where was the pannier tank and 14xx

[@rebeccaclinton928]

15:58 why was that Engine pulling two break vans?

[@robertramsay5963]

Where is that wonderful bike pathway around 14 minutes?

[@tavtwo8581]

That is the Bristol and Bath Railway Path, running alongside the Avon Valley Railway in South Gloucestershire. Well worth a visit!

[@rizkidee1435]

gwr14xx was me

[@landonspain193]

I love British locomotives, but the whistles are so plain. I wanna see a Crosby 5 inch 3 chime on a 14xx lol.

[@scrapsurvivors6671]

14 10 wow they need new track

[@torikogameplays24]

14:10

[@torikogameplays24]

Hahaha yes bouncy

[@gwrduck7975]

Mr Oliver

[@user-gb6ic4qu8r]

Bread.sukumar.

[@user-gb6ic4qu8r]

Bjhimu

[@michellejohnson9662]

14xx Oliver 57xx duck

[@tomasacoba6384]

yea duck and Oliver and rosie

[@trains6568]

Thomas' cousins

[@hi-ot8kf]

Trainsaboom 65 they are not e2s idiot

[@explodingdynamite7319]

RyanairFuckhead ThEy ALMOST lOoK lIkE E2

[@ArnobthetrainboyYT]

Where’s the real Percy?! 🤨