Locomotive Magazine, February 1911

When the 2-6-0 tank locomotives became too weak on the winding coal lines in South Wales, Churchward constructed a successor. Initially, a 2-8-2 tank locomotive based on the class 2800 was planned, but in the end he left out the trailing axle to negotiate the tight curves and thus developed the first British 2-8-0 tank locomotive. The wheel flanges of the second and third coupled axles were weakened and the fourth coupled axle had lateral play. In tests, the locomotives were said to be able to negotiate curves with a radius of 130 feet without derailing.

The GWR class 5205 was a class of 2-8-0T tank locomotives designed by Charles Collett for coal traffic on the short, but steep lines from the coal mines in South Wales to the ports. It was based on Churchward's class 4200 that had been used since 1910 in the same role. The new class was generally very similar, but had cylinders whose diameter was half an inch bigger.

Between 1923 and 1926, 70 had been built at Swindon which got the numbers 5205 to 5274. In 1930, numbers 5275 to 5294 followed and since they had curved instead of straight frames, they were designated as class 5275. Between 1934 and 1936, 20 locomotives of class 5205 and all 20 of class 5275 were rebuilt to the 2-8-2T class 7200.

Since the numbers from 5255 had been freed due to the rebuilds, ten more locomotives of class 5275 were built in 1940 and numbered 5255 to 5264. Most locomotives of these classes were withdrawn between 1961 and 1965. Three are still existing, with 5239 “Goliath” being operational at the Dartmouth Steam Railway and 5224 in store since 2011.