GWR Charles Tayleur locomotives

The first 19 locomotives ordered by Isambard Kingdom Brunel for the Great Western Railway included six 2-2-2 Charles Tayleur locomotives. They were built by Charles Tayleur at his Vulcan Foundry but were unsuccessful and rapidly supplemented by the Star Class locomotives ordered by Daniel Gooch once he had been appointed as the Locomotive Engineer.

18-inch locomotives

Vulcan Power type Steam Designer Charles Tayleur Builder Vulcan Foundry Configuration2-2-2 Gauge7 ft 0¼ in Leading wheel size 4 ft 6 in Driver size 8 ft 0 in Trailing wheel size 4 ft 6 in Wheelbase 13 ft 1 in Cylinder size 14 in dia × 16 in stroke

Aeolus (1837–1867)

This locomotive worked the first train on the Great Western Railway when it opened on 4 June 1838. In 1843 it was fitted with more conventional 6 ft 0 in driving and 3 ft 0 in carrying wheels with 15 in × 18 in cylinders; at some time it was converted to a 2-2-2T tank locomotive. The name Aeolus is quite common in Greek mythology, shared by at least three different people.

Bacchus (1837–1842)

This locomotive was named after Bacchus, the Roman god of the harvest and was later carried by a Pyracmon Class goods locomotive.

Vulcan (1837–1868)

This locomotive was the first to run on the Great Western Railway when it was tested on 28 December 1837 from its shed at West Drayton. It was withdrawn in 1843 but was rebuilt as a 2-2-2T tank locomotive and returned to service in 1846, running in this form until 1868. It survived for two more years at Reading as a stationary boiler. Although named after the workshops where it was built, Vulcan is also the Roman god of fire.

12-inch locomotives

Apollo Power type Steam Designer Charles Tayleur Builder Vulcan Foundry Configuration2-2-2 Gauge7 ft 0¼ in Leading wheel size 4 ft 6 in Driver size 8 ft 0 in Trailing wheel size 4 ft 6 in Wheelbase 13 ft 1 in Cylinder size 12 in dia × 6 in stroke

Apollo (1838–1867)

This locomotive was rebuilt in 1839 with new cylinders 15 in × 18 in and was altered to become a 2-2-2T before it ceased work in 1867. It was named after the important Greek god, Apollo.

Neptune (1838–1840)

Neptune is the Roman god of the sea. The name was later carried by one of the Ariadne Class standard goods locomotives.

Venus (1838–1868)

This locomotive was withdrawn in 1843 but was rebuilt and returned to service in 1846. It now had 6 ft 0 in driving and 3 ft 0 in carrying wheels, with 15 in × 18 in cylinders; at some time it was also converted to run as a 2-2-2T tank locomotive. The name, which represents the Roman goddess of love, was also carried by a Fire Fly Class locomotive from 1841.

References

The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, Part 2: Broad Gauge. The Railway Correspondence and Travel Society. ISBN 0-906867-90-8.
Waters, Laurence (1999). The Great Western Broad Gauge. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-906867-90-8.

v • d • e Great Western Railway locomotives Broad gauge Brunel:

Haigh Foundry · Mather, Dixon · Sharp, Roberts · Charles Tayleur · Hurricane · Thunderer

Gooch:

Ariadne · Banking · Bogie · Caesar · Firefly · Hercules · Iron Duke · Leo · Metropolitan · Premier · Prince · Pyracmon · Star · Sun · Victoria · Waverley