The Book of the King 4-6-0s

The Kings were the final development of the Churchward four-cylinder 4-6-0, stretched to the very limits of the loading gauge. Many people have asked why this, the premier Great Western Railway express passenger class, had not been covered in the 'Book of' series when books had been devoted to the humble pannier tanks and the 'lesser' 4-6-0 classes. The answer lies partly in the mists of time - in the previous millennium when Irwell Press published Peto's Register on the Kings in 1995. Although it has stood the test of time quite well, it was thought the material should be dusted down, refurbished and re-invigorated with a generous helping of new pictures to take its rightful place at the head of the GWR 'Books of'. The Chairman of the Great Western wanted the most powerful express engines in the country, and the successors to the Castle were designed to achieve this. The Kings attracted much attention from the enthusiast community, and many column inches have been devoted to their workings.