Editing GWR 4000 Class (section)

==Background==
After finally converting the last broad gauge lines in 1892, the 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 new [[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> Following the success of the prototypes of his two-cylinder [[GWR 2900 Class|Saint class]] 4-6-0 locomotives, introduced in 1902, Churchward became interested in developing a more powerful 4-cylinder type for the longer non-stop express services. He therefore persuaded the GWR to acquire three French 4-cylinder 4-4-2 [[compound locomotive]]s, [[GWR 102 La France|102 La France]] (1904) and [[GWR 103 President|103 President and 104 Alliance]] (both 1905) for comparison purposes.