GWR Hercules Class

The Hercules Class were four broad gauge steam locomotives for the Great Western Railway. They were the first 0-6-0 locomotives, being built in 1842 by Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company. They were all withdrawn in 1870 and 1871.

Hercules
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerDaniel Gooch
BuilderNasmyth, Gaskell & Co.
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte0-6-0
Gauge7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm)
Driver dia.5 ft 0 in (1,524 mm)
Wheelbase12 ft 6 in (3.81 m)
Cylinder size15 in × 18 in (381 mm × 457 mm)
dia × stroke
Career
OperatorsGreat Western Railway
ClassHercules

From about 1865, the Hercules Class locomotives became part of the Fury Class, along with the Premier Class locomotives.

Locomotives
  • Goliah (1842 - 1871)
This locomotives was named after the Biblical giant, Goliah.
  • Hercules (1842 - 1870)
This locomotive was named after the Greek mythological strongman, Hercules.
  • Sampson (1842 - 1870)
This locomotive was named after the Biblical strongman, Sampson.
  • Tityos (1842 - 1870)
This locomotive was named after Tityos, a giant in Greek mythology.

Accidents and incidents
  • On 27 June 1849, the boiler of Goliah exploded whilst it was hauling a freight train on the South Devon Railway at Plympton. One person was killed.[1]

References
  1. Hewison 1983, pp. 30-31.
Sources
  • Hewison, Christian H. (1983). Locomotive Boiler Explosions. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-8305-1.
  • Reed, P. J. T. (February 1953). White, D. E. (ed.). The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, Part 2: Broad Gauge. Kenilworth: RCTS. pp. B17–B18. ISBN 0-901115-32-0.
  • Waters, Laurence (1999). The Great Western Broad Gauge. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-2634-3 – via Archive.org.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.