Hornby R2019

Class & Prototype

The GWR 2900 Saint Class represents one of British railway history's most influential locomotive designs. Built between 1902-1913, these 77 locomotives pioneered George Jackson Churchward's revolutionary engineering principles that would shape British steam design for five decades.

Key innovations included the first British application of taper boilers with Belpaire fireboxes, establishing the template for all subsequent GWR two-cylinder classes and influencing designs across Britain including LMS Black Fives and BR Standards. With 6ft 8½" driving wheels and 24,395 lbf tractive effort, Saints excelled at express passenger duties on routes like the Cornish Riviera Express.

Tragically, all original Saints were scrapped by 1953, decades before preservation began. However, the Great Western Society's remarkable project created 2999 Lady of Legend in 2019 - the "78th Saint" built using Hall Class donor frames. This resurrection, combined with new model releases from Hornby and heritage examples from Bachmann, ensures the class's legacy continues to inspire railway enthusiasts and modellers worldwide.

The Saints' influence extended far beyond their operational service, establishing standardization principles and engineering methodologies that influenced not just the GWR but British locomotive development through the end of steam.

No prototype found.

Operator & Livery

The Great Western Railway (1835-1947) was Britain's most innovative railway company, engineered by Isambard Kingdom Brunel with his revolutionary 7ft ¼in broad gauge system. Known affectionately as "God's Wonderful Railway" and the "Holiday Line," the GWR connected London Paddington with the West Country, Wales, and Birmingham through 3,800 miles of superbly engineered routes.

Renowned for its Brunswick green locomotives, chocolate and cream carriages, and engineering excellence centred at Swindon Works, the GWR pioneered advanced steam technology under chief mechanical engineers Daniel Gooch, George Jackson Churchward, and Charles Collett. The company's legendary locomotive classes—including Castle, King, Hall, and Manor—established performance standards that influenced British locomotive design for decades.

The only "Big Four" railway to retain its original identity through the 1921 grouping, the GWR maintained its distinctive corporate culture until nationalisation in 1947. Today, the company's engineering legacy lives on through extensive preservation efforts, heritage railways, and detailed model railway recreations that celebrate the finest traditions of British steam railway operation.