GWR tender 2586 was built in 1931 and was the only one of its kind. It was initially attached to 5919 Worsley Hall and in later years to 5904 Kelham Hall. To what other locomotives was this tender attached and when?

(LB:13300)

Answers

The eight wheeled tender rang a bell when I read this question, and I've now found this in OPC's Power of the Castles. In a caption under a photo of 5032 dated 29th August 1936 in which it is attached to tender No. 2586 (there is another undated photo of the same loco attached to the tender), it is said that a total of eleven locos were linked to the tender. The first three were 5919, 5001 and 5032. In total, seven Castles were involved and they were 4093, 5001/17/32/49/68/71. That would presumably leave four Halls including the two mentioned in the question? Unfortunately, there are no photos of the other Castles with this tender so I am unable to help with dates. The tender is said to have been withdrawn in November 1963. I've come across a photo of 5071 with the eight wheel tender, stating that it was next after 5032. The photo is undated, but was said to have ''been issued'' in August 1941, so must have been taken between September 1940 when it was renamed and the following August. (RW:11547)

The eight wheeled tender, which was identical to a standard GWR Collett 4000 gallon tender above the chassis (below it had the eight wheels that were smaller than the standard six), was used indiscriminately on Castles and Halls, and on one Star. Recorded uses (with attachment dates where known, and in date order within the class) were:-
Star: 4043
Castle: 5001 Oct 1931, 5032 July 1935, 5071 June 1940, 5049 April 1942, 5017 June 1944, 5068 April 1948, 4093.
Hall: 5919, 6951, 4918, 5957, 6912, 6905, 5904.
Details can be found in the RCTS The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, the Irwell Press Book of the Castle 4-6-0s. (ESY:5976)