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Description
History
The legendary GWR 5700 class needs no introduction, but how one of these useful locomotives ended up in the North West requires explanation.

In 1929, the GWR was building hundreds of pannier tanks, more than it needed at the time (due to changes in traffic demands) and Nos. 6700-6749 were put into storage. In 1931, the NWR entered into a locomotive hire contract with the GWR (as the Sudrians needed locomotives quickly) to provide several locomotives of different classes. One that was offered was 6723, but the lack of vacuum brakes was a problem, so 5741 was placed on hire instead, with 6723 coming out of storage and going to work on the GWR.

The hired locos at first sported GWR green but were gradually repainted into NWR lined blue.

As of 1937, the GWR offered to sell the locos then on hire, and the NWR accepted, 308 officially entering NWR stock in May of that year. 308 gained the name ‘William Montagu’ in the tradition of naming locomotives after important figures in Sudrian history.
William Montagu was King of Sodor and Mann 1333-1344.

These Sprites free to use (With credit, of course)

Sprites © and myself.

Sudrian Histories © Railway Mania
North Western Railway (wordpress.com)

Description
History
The legendary GWR 5700 class needs no introduction, but how one of these useful locomotives ended up in the North West requires explanation.

In 1929, the GWR was building hundreds of pannier tanks, more than it needed at the time (due to changes in traffic demands) and Nos. 6700-6749 were put into storage. In 1931, the NWR entered into a locomotive hire contract with the GWR (as the Sudrians needed locomotives quickly) to provide several locomotives of different classes. One that was offered was 6723, but the lack of vacuum brakes was a problem, so 5741 was placed on hire instead, with 6723 coming out of storage and going to work on the GWR.

The hired locos at first sported GWR green but were gradually repainted into NWR lined blue.

As of 1937, the GWR offered to sell the locos then on hire, and the NWR accepted, 308 officially entering NWR stock in May of that year. 308 gained the name ‘William Montagu’ in the tradition of naming locomotives after important figures in Sudrian history.
William Montagu was King of Sodor and Mann 1333-1344.

These Sprites free to use (With credit, of course)

Sprites © and myself.

Sudrian Histories © Railway Mania
North Western Railway (wordpress.com)