The Great Bear became the only 4-6-2 ever built by the GWR. Its weight of 97 tons 5 cwt meant that, with such a heavy axle loading, it was restricted to the Paddington to Bristol line. It was decided by C.B. Collett in September 1924 that as it was due a new boiler to actually rebuild it as a 4-6-0 'Castle' class locomotive No. 2975, which became Sir Ernest Palmer.