Hall Class 5960 'Saint Edmund Hall' BR Black E/Emblem
This Locomotive is equipped with an 8 pin DCC socket on the printed circuit board, which is ready to accept 8 pin DCC decoders 36-552 or 36-553.
Description
The Hall Class was the result of a development that emanated originally from Churchward which saw subsequent modification by Collett, his successor, both men being CMEs of the Great Western Railway.
In 1924 No 2925 Saint Martin (Churchwards design of 4-6-0 Saint Class) was selected for modification by C B Collett. The alterations to No 2925 included the fitting of 6' 0" diameter driving wheels, re-alignment of the cylinders and the cab replaced by a modern Castle Class one.
Further changes took place before the new Hall Class began construction. The boiler pitch was modified and outside steam pipes were fitted, the locomotive was re-numbered No 4900 but retained its original name. Eighty production Hall Class locomotives eventually entered service in 1928, plus a further 178 were ordered.
The locomotives saw use throughout the Great Western (and later BR (WR) region) system on mixed traffic duties often deputising for larger engines on express passenger trains. They were paired to a variety of tenders, the majority being 4000-gallon type similar to those of the Castle Class.
Locomotive numbers were allocated to consecutive lots of 100 engines on construction, namely, 4900-4999, 5900-5999 and 6900-6999 with Hawksworths Modified Hall entering service as No.6959.