Bowen-Cooke's predecessor George Whale had built 50 related Precursor Tank Class 4-4-2 engines. In terms of familial relationships, Prince of Wales Tank was both a superheated and extended version of the Precursor Tank, and a version of the Prince of Wales Class4-6-0steam locomotive with side tanks and a bunker which necessitated an extension to the frames and trailing pony truck. They were used on suburban services out of Euston station and from an early date also used on passenger services between Shrewsbury and Swansea (Victoria) over the steeply-graded Central Wales line, a journey of some 120 miles.
The LNWR built 47 of the superheated tanks between 1910 and 1916 under Charles Bowen-Cooke.
LMS service
All passed onto LMS ownership on the 1923 grouping. The LMS renumbered them 6950–6996 and gave them the power classification 4P. Withdrawals started in 1935, their replacements being Class 4 2-6-4T designs by Fowler and Stanier. All were gone by 1941, and no examples were preserved.
Fleet list
Table of locomotives
LNWR No.
Crewe Works No.
Build date
Superheated
LMS No.
Withdrawn
Notes
2665
4950
Dec 1910
May 1913
6950
Sep 1936
2666
4951
Dec 1910
Feb 1915
6951
Jan 1936
2667
4952
Jan 1911
from new
6952
Jul 1937
2668
4953
Jan 1911
from new
6953
Oct 1936
2669
4954
Feb 1911
from new
6954
Sep 1936
2670
4955
Feb 1911
from new
6955
Sep 1936
217
4956
Feb 1911
from new
6956
Apr 1938
1183
4957
Feb 1911
from new
6957
Dec 1937
1366
4958
Feb 1911
from new
6958
Feb 1936
1797
4959
Feb 1911
from new
6959
Mar 1938
632
4960
Mar 1911
May 1913
6977
Mar 1936
1186
4961
Mar 1911
Mar 1914
6982
Mar 1937
1416
4962
Mar 1911
Aug 1916
6986
Jan 1937
1533
4963
Mar 1911
Jun 1913
6978
Mar 1937
1638
4964
Mar 1911
Apr 1915
6985
Apr 1937
1688
4965
Mar 1911
Jun 1913
6979
Apr 1941
1692
4966
Apr 1911
Jan 1915
6984
Apr 1936
1710
4967
Apr 1911
Jul 1914
6983
Feb 1937
1728
4968
Apr 1911
Jul 1913
6980
Mar 1938
1734
4969
Apr 1911
Nov 1913
6981
Apr 1936
91
5080
Jul 1912
from new
6960
Feb 1939
375
5081
Jul 1912
from new
6961
Feb 1938
376
5082
Jul 1912
from new
6962
Jan 1937
716
5083
Jul 1912
from new
6963
Mar 1936
915
5084
Aug 1912
from new
6964
Jul 1937
932
5085
Aug 1912
from new
6965
Dec 1937
944
5086
Aug 1912
from new
6966
Nov 1937
962
5087
Aug 1912
from new
6970
Apr 1936
858
5088
Aug 1912
from new
6969
Jun 1937
2004
5089
Aug 1912
from new
6971
Apr 1937
327
5090
Sep 1912
from new
6967
Feb 1936
704
5091
Sep 1912
from new
6968
Jul 1936
841
5092
Sep 1912
from new
6972
Apr 1937
963
5093
Sep 1912
from new
6973
Feb 1938
1006
5094
Sep 1912
from new
6974
Sep 1936
1021
5095
Sep 1912
from new
6975
Sep 1937
1184
5096
Oct 1912
from new
6976
Feb 1936
96
5347
Sep 1916
from new
6987
Dec 1936
316
5348
Sep 1916
from new
6988
Dec 1936
809
5349
Sep 1916
from new
6989
Aug 1937
878
5350
Oct 1916
from new
6990
Mar 1936
2098
5351
Oct 1916
from new
6991
Feb 1936
2273
5352
Oct 1916
from new
6992
Jan 1937
2292
5353
Nov 1916
from new
6993
Sep 1939
2298
5354
Nov 1916
from new
6994
Feb 1936
2384
5355
Nov 1916
from new
6995
Apr 1937
2418
5356
Nov 1916
from new
6996
Sep 1937
References
Baxter, Bertram (1979). Baxter, David (ed.). British Locomotive Catalogue 1825–1923, Volume 2B: London and North Western Railway and its constituent companies. Ashbourne, Derbyshire: Moorland Publishing Company. pp. 290–291. ISBN0-903485-84-2.
Casserley, H. C. & Johnston, Stuart W. (1974) [1966]. Locomotives at the Grouping 3: London, Midland and Scottish Railway. Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan. p. 79. ISBN0-7110-0554-0.