The class was designed by Charles Collett and introduced in 1931, and were a straightforward development of the earlier 5101 class. The main difference from their predecessors was an increased boiler pressure of with a consequent increase in tractive effort. There were seventy in the class, built in two batches in 1931–1933 and 1935. They were frequently referred to by trainspotters as 'Tanner One-ers'- being a reference to their '61xx' numbering sequence using colloquial terms for a sixpence and a penny. The class was specifically built for commuter services in the London area where they replaced the ageing 2221 class on these services. They lasted to the end of steam on the Western Region of British Railways in 1965, never straying far from their home turf. Typical duties were Paddington to Aylesbury via High Wycombe, and from the same terminus to Oxford, Windsor, Reading and Basingstoke. They were mainly shedded at Old Oak Common, Southall, Slough, Reading and Aylesbury throughout their lives. In the early 1960s, the advent of the first generationdiesel multiple units made them semi-redundant though generally far from worn out. Their last few years saw them on more menial duties, as in the adjacent photograph, until scrapping.
Preservation
One locomotive, 6106, has survived into preservation, and is at Didcot Railway Centre, though currently non-operational.
Models
The erstwhile Kitmaster company produced an unpowered polystyrene injection mouldedmodel kit for 00 gauge. In late 1962, the Kitmaster brand was sold by its parent company to Airfix, who transferred the moulding tools to their own factory; they re-introduced some of the former Kitmaster range, including this model. The tools were subsequently sold again to Dapol who have also produced this model. Triang also produced a powered model of 6157 in TT scale For some time Graham Farish have produced a N gauge model, it is dated compared with more modern models and its driving wheels are scale for the 3100 class, i.e. 5ft 3 inches, but is still a reasonable representation which forms a good base to add detail too. Dapol is producing a completely new OO scale model of this class Hornby Railways is also retooling their OO scale model of this class
