GWR Pannier Tanks: 5700/8750 GWR

Our update this week contains one engine, two designs and covers a massive 852 locomotives!
The 5700 (and later 8750 variant) are one of the most iconic designs of 0-6-0 steam engine and we are delighted to be able to present the most comprehensive and complete models of them ever seen in Train Simulator.

We begin with the original 5700 as built in 1929. Very basically outfitted with no doors or weather screens, no top feed injectors and even lacking steam heating at this time.

Moving on to the 1934-42 livery, this particular engine number still lacks doors and weather panels although some were being fitted at this time as they went in for servicing.

By 1942 all engines had doors and weather panels and some were now fitted with injector top feeds.

And finally seen here in the 1948 temporary livery after the merging of the "big four" into British Railways. You may also notice that this engine has riveted tanks which was a feature of engines that were not built by the GWR in Swindon but were outsourced. Another feature (or lack of) for this particular group of engines is that they carry only a steam brake and no vacuum brake and so would have been used for shunting and unfitted freight duties only.

A view inside a cab shows that this particular engine has vacuum brakes and steam heating as can be seen by the dials and equipment. All cabs are set up to match the specified engines features.

We now move to the 8750 variant of the 5700 Pannier Tank. Featuring a redesigned cab with a higher roof, more akin to the 5400 classes style, these engines were built from 1933 and were fitted with vacuum brakes, steam heating, and ATC as standard where required.
Note: As with the 5700 there were some specific engines that were built for shunting and unfitted freight use only and did not require vacuum brakes or heating.

The 1934 livery and a view of the rear of the engine.

From 1942 onwards the 8750 had the same modifications as the 5700's, added over time when taken in for servicing. Here we see one with the improved top feed injectors.

 And in the temporary British Railways livery.

The cab here is for an earlier date as can be seen by the injector feed pipes on the front of the boiler backhead.
As you expect from Victory Works all cabs have fully working windows, doors, hatches, seats and controls with custom lighting and many realistic features like a wobbling water gauge and working lubricator.

All engines have multiple options available (which will be able to be set using the free tool we are currently working on) one of which is the popular polished safety bonnet. Although not officially used on freight engines many GWR crew would "uncover" and polish the bonnet on their engines and in preservation they are pretty much obligatory for every survivor.

That's it for today - we'll be back next Friday with a look at the 5700 and 8750's under the ownership of British Railways.