I personally think a Great Western heritage railway should have at least one GWR steam loco. The West Somerset Railway being the only Heritage Railway in TSW and being quite an idyllic setting with beautiful countryside one half and the other half trailing the coast. The GWR was recognised for both of these elements, its a crime that we don't have any GWR built steam engines. I also think it's a crime how we don't have a Summer Timetable for the WSR instead of the steam and diesel galas. Going back to the topic, I think the engines could be sold separately (like the Class 33 and Class 52) but also sold together. Locos The GWR designed many iconic steam engines: Halls, Castles, Kings, Saints, Granges, Pannier Tanks, Large Prairies, Small Prairies; etc etc. There's a lot of choice. So I think there should be a good mix. GWR 57XX The GW 57XX is an iconic staple in railway industry, a tank engine that could be seen all over the GW network, doing almost everything: Shunting, passenger and Freight. Some have even been seen on railtours. They were built for light freight and shunting but later in life they could be seen on passenger trains, pretty much like the Midland 4F. 16 are preserved out of the 863 built, between 1929-1950. 0-6-0PT wheel configuration. 47 Long Tons and 53.2 Short Tons. 200 psi. BR Classified them as 3Fs. They were built with 2 cylinders and Stephenson's valve gear. GWR Hall The GW Halls were iconic in Britain. Setting a Standard for mixed traffic locomotives. Have hauled many iconic trains, e. g. The Shakespeare Express. Built with 2 cylinders. 258 between 1924-1943. 225 PSI. 75 Long Tons and 84 Short Tons. 10 preserved. GWR Castle The GW Castle was built for express trains and was in a tough competition between the LMS Royal Scots and LNER A1s. Some were said to have travelled 100 MPH+. 171 were built between 1923-1950 with 225 PSI and 4 cylinders. They weighed 79 long Tons and 89.4 Short Tons. I think, like the diesel gala, these 3 could replace Services. For example: 57xx~4F Hall~Jubilee Castle~Flying Scotsman I also think they could be released as volumes and this could be the first volume and the second volume could be the GW Grange, GW Saint and GW 28xx.
DTG have still not doing steam, Thomas the Tank engine is to most likely have simplified controls so “anyone can go on and play”
If DTG do consider bringing back steam (but only if done better) then something GWR absolutely must be top of the list. A Hall with a rake of Collet or Hawksworth coaches and a Pannier tank with a "B" set or some BR suburban Mark One's.
On the basis that DTG perform a miracle and bring back steam, I would LOVE for them to do Riveria in the 50s with the 57xx, Hall & Castle
