Wolverhampton was expanded in 1858 and began building new standard gauge locomotives in 1859 whilst Joseph Armstrong was in charge.
Daniel Gooch, the GWR's Locomotive Superintendent at
Swindon, resigned at the end of September 1864 and Joseph Armstrong was promoted to replace Gooch, whereupon J. Armstrong's brother
George succeeded him at Wolverhampton. Whilst J. Armstrong was at Wolverhampton, twenty locomotives were built to his designs; after he was transferred to Swindon, 22 more to his designs were built under the superintendency of G. Armstrong. In comparison with Swindon, Wolverhampton was frustrated by having to maintain a great variety of different locomotives from the various lines that had been taken over. Much of its work, therefore, was in rebuilding and standardisation. However, once new construction started in 1859 (with
two 2-2-2s designed by Joseph Armstrong) its independence showed. This was even true of the livery; that of Swindon engines was leaf green with oak brown frames, while Wolverhampton's were dark blue-green with red-brown frames. Construction during George Armstrong's tenure consisted mainly of 0-4-2 tanks of the familiar
517 Class, and several classes of 0-6-0 saddle tanks, nearly all of which later became
pannier tanks, and many of which would survive in that form into
British Railways days. As the broad gauge declined and was finally abolished in 1892, Swindon naturally took over as the GWR's main "narrow" (=standard) gauge locomotive builder. When George Armstrong retired, aged 75, in 1897, Swindon influence grew stronger at Wolverhampton. After producing some 800 locomotives, all new building ceased in 1908. The Works continued to repair and overhaul all classes of locomotive, from the humble tank engine to the
King Class and
BR Standard locomotives, until it closed in 1964. ==Notes==