GWR Sun Class

Sun
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Daniel Gooch Builder various
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-2-2 Gauge 7 ft 0¼ in Wheelbase 13 ft 8 in Cylinder size 14 in dia × 18 in stroke

The Great Western Railway Sun Class 2-2-2 broad gauge steam locomotives for passenger train work. This class was introduced into service between April 1840 and January 1842, and withdrawn between January 1864 and June 1879.

A smaller-wheeled version of the Fire Fly Class for working trains on the hilly sections of line west of Swindon, they did not prove heavy enough for the task and were later altered to become 2-2-2T tank locomotives. Later still Sun, Hesperus, Gazelle, Wolf, and Assagais were given higher pressure boilers and in this form ran until 1879; the last unrebuilt locomotive having been withdrawn in 1872.

From about 1865, the Sun Class was known as the Wolf Class.

Locomotives

• Antelope (1841 - 1870)

Built by Sharp, Roberts and Company, this locomotive was named after a fast animal, an antelope. It worked the first train from Teignmouth to Newton on the South Devon Railway on 30 December 1846.

• Assagais (1841 - 1875)

Built by Stothert and Slaughter, this locomotive was named after an African spear

• Aurora (1840 - 1866)

Built by R and W Hawthorn and Company with 14in dia × 18in cylinders, this locomotive was named after the goddess Aurora.

• Comet (1840 - 1871)

Built by R and W Hawthorn and Company with 14in dia × 18in cylinders, this locomotive was named after a fast moving heavenly body, a comet.

• Creese (1842 - 1866)

Built by Stothert and Slaughter, this locomotive was named after the Kris, a short wavy dagger.

• Djerid (1841 - 1870)

Built by Stothert and Slaughter, this locomotive was named after

• Eclipse (1840 - 1864)

Built by R and W Hawthorn and Company, this locomotive was named after

• Gazelle (1841 - 1879)

Built by Sharp, Roberts and Company, this locomotive was named after the swift animal, gazelle.

• Giraffe (1841 - 1872)

Built by Sharp, Roberts and Company, this locomotive was named after the swift animal, giraffe.

• Hesperus (1841 - 1876)

Built by R and W Hawthorn and Company with 14in dia × 18in cylinders and an experimental boiler, it was later rebuilt with a conventional one. It was named after Hesperus a character in Roman mythology.

• Javelin (1841 - 1870)

Built by Stothert and Slaughter, this locomotive was named after a thrown weapon, a javelin.

• Lance (1841 - 1870)

Built by Stothert and Slaughter, the name is that of a thrown weapon, a lance.

• Meridian (1840 - 1870)

Built by R and W Hawthorn and Company, this locomotive was named after

• Meteor (1840 - 1864)

Built by R and W Hawthorn and Company, this locomotive was named after a fast moving heavenly body, a Meteor.

• Rocket (1841 - 1870)

Built by Stothert and Slaughter, this locomotive was named after a swift projectile, a rocket

• Stiletto (1841 - 1870)

Built by Stothert and Slaughter, this locomotive was named after

• Sun (1840 - 1873)

Built by R and W Hawthorn and Company, this locomotive was named after the Sun.

• Sunbeam (1840 - 1870)

Built by R and W Hawthorn and Company.

• Wolf (1841 - 1873)

Built by Sharp, Roberts and Company, this locomotive was named after the strong animal, wolf.

• Yataghan (1841 - 1871)

Built by Stothert and Slaughter, this locomotive was named after

• Zebra (1841 - 1871)

Built by Sharp, Roberts and Company, this locomotive was named after the fast animal, the zebra.

References

• Sheppard, Geof (2008). Broad Gauge Locomotives. Southampton: Noodle Books. ISBN 1-906419-09-7. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
• Waters, Laurence (1999). The Great Western Broad Gauge. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-906867-90-8.
• The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, Part 2: Broad Gauge. The Railway Correspondence and Travel Society. 1953. ISBN 0-90686-790-8.