British Rail No.5542 (GWR – 2-6-2T)

No.4452 is a Class 4575 steam locomotive, configured as 2-6-2T. It was built in May 1928 (Post Grouping) at the Great Western Railway’s Swindon Works.

Class 4575 and class 45xx locomotives were used extensively on branch lines over most of the GWR’s territory.

When new No. 5542 was allocated to Gloucester Shed and entered service for the first time on 2 August 1928. Over the rest of its working life, it was allocated to Bristol, Taunton and Newton Abbot before spending its last years at Westbury where it was withdrawn by BR on 8 December 1961. It then suffered the indignity of being sold for scrap, have covered almost 1 million miles over its working life.

It was however rescued the West Somerset Railway Association in 1976 and then three years later it was sold a group of rail enthusiasts who formed the 5542 Fund to save it. The restoration work was completed in 2002 it was returned to steam with the West Somerset Railway (WSR).

Since 2002, No. 5542 has continued to work on the WRS, the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway and other lines, including as on Street View in May 2019 on the Battlefield Railway.

On Street View No. 5542 is seen at Shackerstone Station during the Spring Steam Gala.