Construction of the class began in 1928, being based, with detail diferences, on the highly successful 1924 rebuild of 'Saint' class No 2925 'Saint Martin'. In that rebuild the driving wheel diameter was reduced from 6' 81/2" and a modern cab fitted. Construction of 80 'Hall' class engines was initially authorised. After February 1943. No 6959 onwards were produced to a redesign by Collett's successor F. W. Hawksworth, these are known as 'Modified Halls'.
A total of 330 'Hall' class engines were built, right up to 1950. One of the originals, 4911 'Bowden Hall' was destroyed by a direct hit by a bomb at Plymouth in 1941 - its crew, having sheltered underneath, surviving.
5900, 'Hinderton Hall' was built at Swindon in 1931. It spent much of its life in the West Country, being one of several which received boiler improvments before withdrawal, from Bristol in 1963.
One of the lucky engines sent to Woodham Bros of Barry for scrapping, it was rescued by a Society member and brought to Didcot in June 1971, fully restored by 1976, and saw considerable service again, on the main line as well as at Didcot. it is now on static display, and no doubt will steam again after it has reached the head of the overhaul queue.
Click on any of the pictures on this page for a larger version.
| Wheel Arrangement | 4 - 6 - 0 |
| Cylinders | (2) 18.5 x 30 inches |
| Driving wheel diameter | 6 feet 0 inches |
| Tractive Effort | 27,275 pounds |
| Weight | 114 tons |
| Coal Capacity | 6 Tons |
| Water Capacity | 4,000 gallons |
| Route Availability | Red |
| Power Class | D |
| Boiler type | Standard No. 1 |
| Boiler pressure | 225 lbs/sq in |
| Barrel maximum dia. | 5 feet 6 inches |
| Barrel length | 14 feet 10 inches |
| Area of firegrate | 27.1 sq ft |
| Heating surfaces, firebox | 155 sq ft |
| Heating surfaces, tubes | 1687 sq ft |
| Superheater Area | 263 sq ft |