The Great Western Railway (GWR) 3100 Class was a class of 2-6-2T side tank steam locomotive.

History

This class of large prairie was created in 1938 when Collett rebuilt some of Churchward's 3150 Class with a view to using them as bankers, particularly from Severn Tunnel Junction shed. These engines used the standard class 4 boiler again, but pressed to 225 psi. and using smaller coupled wheels of 5 ft diameter, and 1/2 in increase in cylinder diameter, nominal tractive effort rose to 31,170 lb. Almost impossible to pick out was a 2 in reduction in pony truck wheel diameter to 3 ft. Only five engines were ever modified, namely 3173, 3156, 3181, 3155 and 3179 which were rebuilt as 3100 to 3104 respectively. None of these were preserved.