[4] Others have referred to a statement made to the GWR board in 1906 about the GWR-designed 4-4-2 North Star, where Churchward stated that a 4-6-2 would be bigger than required at that time but that such a design was being prepared.

In service, the performance of The Great Bear proved to be disappointing and not a significant improvement on existing classes.

However, the excellent performance of the Star Class and the advent of the First World War brought a stop to further experimentation without significant improvement.

In addition to the disappointing performance, the locomotive had a highly restrictive route availability which limited its usefulness.

The 20 long tons 9 cwt (20.8 t) axle load restricted it to the Paddington to Bristol main line, although it was once recorded to have travelled as far west as Newton Abbot.

[9] Although not a technical success, The Great Bear was considered the company's flagship locomotive from its introduction until Churchward's retirement in 1922.

[11] With the introduction of 4073 Caerphilly Castle in 1923 with a higher tractive effort, The Great Bear ceased to have any publicity value and became an embarrassment.

[13] According to Cecil J. Allen, "The Great Bear was one of the very few locomotive types that Swindon has produced, and in particular among the Churchward designs, to which the word 'failure' could be applied.