GWR locomotive numbering and classification (original) (raw)

The GWR was the longest-lived of the pre-nationalisation railway companies in Britain, surviving the 'Grouping' of the railways in 1923 almost unchanged. As a result, the history of its numbering and classification of locomotives is relatively complicated. This page explains the principal systems that were used. * For information about individual classes and locomotives, see: Locomotives of the Great Western Railway