Editing GWR 2900 Class (section)

==Background==
After finally converting the last broad gauge lines in 1892, the [[Great Western Railway]] (GWR) began a period of modernisation as new cut-off lines shortened its routes to west of England, South Wales and Birmingham. During the first decade of the twentieth century the [[Chief Mechanical Engineer]], [[George Jackson Churchward]], designed or acquired a number of experimental locomotives with different wheel arrangements and boiler designs to help him plan for the future motive power needs of the railway.<ref name=Nock1980>{{harvnb |Nock |1980 |p=11}}</ref> The first of these was a two-cylinder 4-6-0 locomotive, designed in 1901 whilst Churchward was still the Chief Assistant of his predecessor [[William Dean (engineer)|William Dean]].