Lionheart Trains LHT-S-5502U Class 55xx 2-6-2 Great Western Green Unnumbered Steam Locomotive

Specification

• Die cast metal chassis and cylinders with working vacuum pump              
• Die cast wheels with steel tyres                 
• Brake shoes in ABS plastic             
• Two styles of sand boxes in ABS                             
• 5 pole skew wound precision motor         
• Sprung driving wheel and pony trucks, live bearing pick-ups              
• Front and rear pony wheel trucks to operate on a cam system to allow the model to traverse R2 (40.5”radius) curves                 
• Die cast pivoted coupling and connecting rods.          
• Two versions of smokebox door (one with fixings for B.R. number plate)         
• Easily removeable cab roof (for adding a crew) by means of small magnets                 
• Chimney, short and tall safety valve casings and whistles (brass)      
• Working cab doors in metal                 
• Wire handrails with stanchions in metal                  
• Sprung metal buffers and screw link couplings         
• Full back head detail with reversing lever in ABS           
• Coal load in bunker      
• Flickering firebox glow   

They were designed as small mixed traffic branch locomotives, mainly used on branch lines. They were a development of Churchward's 4500 Class with larger side tanks and increased water capacity.100 were built between 1927–1929 at the GWR Swindon Works and were numbered 4575-4599 and 5500-5574. Fifteen locomotives were fitted with auto apparatus in 1953 to enable them to run push-pull trains on South Wales lines with auto trailers. 

They are often referred to as Small Prairie Class tank locomotives. A total of Eleven members of the class have made it into preservation.