GWR Pannier Tanks: 5700/8750 Post Britsh Railways

Last week we left you on a cliff hanger.. 18 of the 5700/8750's were sold out of BR service. But where did they go?

Despite being electrified in 1905, the London underground network had kept a small number of steam locomotives for use on engineering and ballast trains but by the 1950's these engines were old, tired and expensive to maintain. GWR Pannier tank No. 7711 underwent trials with them from January to April 1956 and in May of that year they purchased it, along with No. 5752.

Numbered L90 and L91 they received a livery of London Transport Rail Red and the LT wording on the sides of the tanks.

Eleven more 5700 engines were purchased between 1958 and 1963 numbered from L89 to L99 (numbers L90 and L91 were reused after the original engines were scrapped) and they continued in use at London Transport with the last three being scrapped in 1971.

Five more engines were sold by British Railways between 1959 and 1965 to the National Coal Board (NCB) for use at coal pits in South Wales and No. 9792 even worked the Maerdy Colliery - a location familiar to many owners of Train Simulator. These purchases continued a tradition of the GWR selling withdrawn pannier tank locomotives to the NCB and the two 5700 variants and three 8750 variants were put to good use. They retained their original BR numbering.

The NCB locomotives received minimal maintenance and to save the costs of expensive overhauls were simply run into the ground.

No. 7754, was the last engine in industrial service and after working at Welsh collieries was moved to Mountain Ash in 1970 where amazingly an ex-GWR fitter decided to kept it working until 1975! Sadly a loose piston resulted in a blown cylinder cover but No. 7754 could still be seen on shed in 1980 after which the NCB donated it to the National Museum Wales who placed it on permanent loan to the Llangollen Railway.

And that brings us to the end of the liveries for the GWR Pannier Tanks. We hope you agree that it's a bumper pack with lots of options and uses for many TS routes.

Below is the feature list taken from the manual:

• Simple, standard and advanced driving modes
• Xbox controller support SIMPLE AND STANDARD MODES ONLY

• GWR 5400 Pannier Tank Locomotive
• GWR Green (4 logos)
• BR Black (2 logos)
• BR Black – Worn (2 logos)
• GWR 6400 Pannier Tank Locomotive
• GWR Green (4 logos)
• BR Black (2 logos)
• BR Black – Worn (2 logos)
• BR Lined Green (2 logos)
• GWR 7400 Pannier Tank Locomotive
• GWR Green (3 logos)
• BR Black (2 logos)
• BR Black – Worn (2 logos)
• GWR 5700 Pannier Tank Locomotive
• All GWR/BR liveries come with 2 variations that have either a combined brake or just a steam brake
• GWR Green (4 logos)
• BR Black (2 logos)
• BR Black – Worn (2 logos)
• BR Mixed Traffic Black (2 logos)
• NCB Green - Worn
• London Transport Red
• GWR 8750 Pannier Tank Locomotive
• All GWR/BR liveries come with 2 variations that have either a combined brake or just a steam brake
• GWR Green (4 logos)
• BR Black (2 logos)
• BR Black – Worn (2 logos)
• BR Mixed Traffic Black (2 logos)
• NCB Green – Worn

• Customisable engine numbers and shed codes
• Optional parts and fittings including painted or polished safety valve covers, chimney styles, lining, power discs, ATC, speedometer and much more
• Custom sound sets inside and out
• Realistic cab with multiple views, including dual head out and fully modelled firebox and coal
• Realistic wheel slip physics and effects ADVANCED MODE ONLY
• Simulated steam chest ADVANCED MODE ONLY
• Realistic train pipe, reservoir vacuum and steam braking ADVANCED MODE ONLY
• Cylinder cock management  ADVANCED MODE ONLY
• Boiler management with priming possible ADVANCED MODE ONLY
• Realistic injector control ADVANCED MODE ONLY
• Realistic “by the shovel” stoking with synchronised sound ADVANCED MODE ONLY
• Dynamic steam and smoke colour and quantity
• Realistic boiler water gauges effected by gradient, acceleration and speed and with blow down test
• Opening windows (with rain effects), doors, weather panels and roof hatch
• Dynamic lamp setting
• Cab light effects including firebox glow, water gauge lamp and cab lamp
• Second valve regulator effects ADVANCED MODE ONLY
• Atmospheric AI effects

• British Railways 63ft Autocoach
• Diagrams A38, A39, A40, A43
• Crimson Lake livery
• Maroon livery
• Driveable unpowered cab for any consist
• Period and Modern passengers
• Intelligent display of driver in cab
• Additional features when coupled to any Victory Works auto-fitted locomotive, including:
• Realistic simulated remote control, including steam chest of the driving locomotive ADVANCED MODE ONLY
• Whistle and gong alert
• "Intelligent" lamp setting

• 10 scenarios (spread over the following routes)
• Falmouth Branch
• J94 ‘Memories of Maerdy’
• Riviera Line in the Fifties: Exeter - Kingswear
• West Somerset Railway
• 76 Quick Drive consists

Sadly the Pannier Tanks won't be with you in time for Christmas however we'd advise keeping some pennies ready for the start of the New Year ;-)