GWR 1076 Class

1076 Class

1593 with a boat train at Hakin Docks station, Milford Haven in 1889

Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Joseph Armstrong Builder Great Western Railway

Specifications Configuration 0-6-0T Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge and 7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm) Driver dia. 4 ft 7 in (1,397 mm) Wheelbase 15 ft 8 in (4,775 mm) Cylinder size 17 in × 24 in (432 mm × 610 mm) dia × stroke

Career Operators Great Western Railway Class 1076 Class

The 1076 Class were 266 double framed 0-6-0 tank locomotives built by the Great Western Railway between 1870 and 1881; the last one, number 1287, was withdrawn in 1946. They are often referred to as the Buffalo Class following the naming of locomotive 1134.

These large tank locomotives, with their 4-foot-7-inch (1,397 mm) wheels and 17-by-24-inch (432 mm × 610 mm) dia × stroke cylinders were capable of working trains on the main line. They followed on from George Armstrong's 1016 Class built from 1867, themselves derived from the earlier 302 Class of Joseph Armstrong, and were perpetuated by his successor William Dean until 1881. Modernised saddle tank locomotives of similar size were then produced in the 1813 Class.

The first six were built with side tanks. The following locomotives had saddle tanks covering their boilers and fireboxes, but from 1874 longer saddle tank extending to the front of the smokebox were the norm. All the earlier locomotives were eventually fitted with these larger tanks. Most were reconstructed with pannier tanks from 1911 onwards.

The first locomotives had just a spectacle plate to give protection for the crew, but then small cabs, open at the back, were fitted. Later on most of the surviving locomotives were given full cabs so that there was protection when running in reverse.

Other changes to various locomotives over their long lives were Belpaire fireboxes, enlarged coal bunkers, and even superheaters. One or two were fitted with spark-arresting chimneys. 21 were fitted for working autotrains.