The

Great Western Railway The Great Western Railway (GWR) was a British railway company that linked London with the southwest, west and West Midlands of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament on 31 August 1835 and ran ...

Hawthorn Class were broad gauge

steam locomotive A steam locomotive is a locomotive that provides the force to move itself and other vehicles by means of the expansion of steam. It is fuelled by burning combustible material (usually coal, oil or, rarely, wood) to heat water in the locomot ...

s for passenger train work. This class was introduced into service in 1865, a development of the Victoria Class. Twenty locomotives were ordered from

Slaughter, Grüning and Company The Avonside Engine Company was a locomotive manufacturer in Avon Street, St Philip's Marsh, St. Philip's, Bristol, England between 1864 and 1934. However the business originated with an earlier enterprise Henry Stothert and Company. Origins The ...

and given the names of famous engineers. The remaining six were built by the railway itself at

Swindon Swindon () is a town and unitary authority with Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough status in Wiltshire, England. As of the 2021 Census, the population of Swindon was 201,669, making it the largest town in the county. The Swindon un ...

and given names previously carried by the Firefly Class locomotives that they replaced. Withdrawals started in March 1876 but the following year ten were rebuilt as locomotives; the last survived until the end of the broad gauge on 21 May 1892.

Tender locomotives

* ''Acheron'' (1866 - 1887) :This locomotive was built by the Great Western Railway at

. The name ''

Acheron The Acheron (; grc, Ἀχέρων ''Acheron'' or Ἀχερούσιος ''Acherousios''; ell, Αχέροντας ''Acherontas'') is a river located in the Epirus region of northwest Greece. It is long, and its drainage area is . Its source is ...

'' comes from a Greek river and had previously been carried by a Fire Fly Class locomotive. * ''Beyer'' (1865 - 1877) :Built by

. It was named after

Charles Beyer Charles Frederick Beyer (an anglicised form of his original German name Carl Friedrich Beyer) (14 May 1813 – 2 June 1876) was a celebrated German-British locomotive designer and builder, and co-founder of the Institution of Mechanical Engineer ...

, a founder partner in the

Beyer, Peacock and Company Beyer, Peacock and Company was an English railway locomotive manufacturer with a factory in Openshaw, Manchester. Founded by Charles Beyer, Richard Peacock and Henry Robertson, it traded from 1854 until 1966. The company exported locomotives, ...

locomotive manufacturing firm. * ''Blenkensop'' (1865 - 1892) :Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company, this locomotive was named after

John Blenkinsop John Blenkinsop (1783 – 22 January 1831) was an English mining engineer and an inventor of steam locomotives, who designed the first practical railway locomotive. He was born in Felling, County Durham, the son of a stonemason and was app ...

, a mining engineer and pioneer of railway locomotives. * ''Bury'' (1865 - 1877) :Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company. This locomotive was named after Edward Bury of

Bury, Curtis, and Kennedy Bury, Curtis and Kennedy was a steam locomotive manufacturer in Liverpool, England. Edward Bury established the works in 1826, under the name Edward Bury and Company. He employed James Kennedy as foreman; Kennedy later became a partner. About ...

. * ''Cerberus'' (1866 - 1877) :This locomotive was built at Swindon. Cerebus was a character in

Greek mythology A major branch of classical mythology, Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the Ancient Greece, ancient Greeks, and a genre of Ancient Greek folklore. These stories concern the Cosmogony, origin and Cosmology#Metaphysical co ...

and the name had previously been carried by a Fire Fly Class locomotive. * ''Dewrance'' (1865 - 1892) :Built by the Slaughter, Grüning and Company, it was named after John Dewrance, an early railway engineer. * ''Fenton'' (1865 - 1892) :Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company. This locomotive was named after James Fenton of

Fenton, Murray and Jackson Fenton, Murray and Jackson was an engineering company at the Round Foundry off Water Lane in Holbeck, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. Fenton, Murray and Wood Fenton Murray and Wood was founded in the 1790s by ironfounder Matthew Murray and ...

. * ''Foster'' (1865 - 1876) :Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company, it was probably named after James Foster of

Foster, Rastrick and Company Foster, Rastrick and Company was one of the pioneering steam locomotive manufacturing companies of England. It was based in Stourbridge, Worcestershire, now West Midlands. James Foster, an ironmaster, and John Urpeth Rastrick, an engineer, beca ...

. * ''Gooch'' (1865 - 1892) :Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company, this locomotive was named after

Daniel Gooch Sir Daniel Gooch, 1st Baronet (24 August 1816 – 15 October 1889) was an English railway locomotive and transatlantic cable engineer. He was the first Superintendent of Locomotive Engines on the Great Western Railway from 1837 to 1864 and ...

, the first locomotive engineer of the Great Western Railway. * ''Hackworth'' (1865 - 1892) :Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company, This locomotive was named after

Timothy Hackworth Timothy Hackworth (22 December 1786 – 7 July 1850) was an English steam locomotive engineer who lived in Shildon, County Durham, England and was the first locomotive superintendent of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. Youth and early wor ...

, a famous engineer. * ''Hawk'' (1865 - 1892) :This locomotive was built at Swindon. A

hawk Hawks are bird of prey, birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. They are widely distributed and are found on all continents except Antarctica. * The subfamily Accipitrinae includes goshawks, sparrowhawks, sharp-shinned hawks and others. Th ...

is a kind of bird of prey; the name was later carried by a Fire Fly Class locomotive. * ''Hawthorn'' (1865 - 1876) :Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company, it was named for the founder of R and W Hawthorn and Company * ''Hedley'' (1865 - 1877) :Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company, it was probably named after

William Hedley William Hedley (13 July 1779 – 9 January 1843) was born in Newburn, near Newcastle upon Tyne. He was one of the leading industrial engineers of the early 19th century, and was instrumental in several major innovations in early rail transpor ...

, one of the pioneers of the steam locomotive. * ''John Gray'' (1865 - 1876) :Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company, named after John Gray, the engineer of the

London and Brighton Railway The London and Brighton Railway (L&BR) was a railway company in England which was incorporated in 1837 and survived until 1846. Its railway ran from a junction with the London and Croydon Railway (L&CR) at Norwood – which gives it access fro ...

. * ''Melling'' (1865 - 1877) :Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company, it was probably named after Richard Melling, a canal engineer. * ''Murdoch'' (1865 - 1892) :Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company. This locomotive was named after

William Murdoch William Murdoch (sometimes spelled Murdock) (21 August 1754 – 15 November 1839) was a Scottish engineer and inventor. Murdoch was employed by the firm of Boulton & Watt and worked for them in Cornwall, as a steam engine erector for ten yea ...

. * ''Ostrich'' (1865 - 1877) :This locomotive was built at Swindon. An

ostrich Ostriches are large flightless birds of the genus ''Struthio'' in the order Struthioniformes, part of the infra-class Palaeognathae, a diverse group of flightless birds also known as ratites that includes the emus, rheas, and kiwis. There are ...

is a large flightless bird; the name had previously been carried by a Fire Fly Class locomotive. * ''Peacock'' (1866 - 1875) :This locomotive was built by the

Avonside Engine Company The Avonside Engine Company was a locomotive manufacturer in Avon Street, St. Philip's, Bristol, England between 1864 and 1934. However the business originated with an earlier enterprise Henry Stothert and Company. Origins The firm was original ...

. This locomotive was named after

Richard Peacock Richard Peacock (9 April 1820 – 3 March 1889) was an English engineer, one of the founders of locomotive manufacturer Beyer, Peacock and Company. Early life and education Born in Swaledale, Yorkshire, Richard Peacock was educated at Leeds G ...

, a founder partner in the

locomotive manufacturing firm. * ''Penn'' (1866 - 1877) :This locomotive was built by the Avonside Engine Company and named after John Penn, who served two terms as a president of the

Institution of Mechanical Engineers The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) is an independent professional association and learned society headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that represents mechanical engineers and the engineering profession. With over 120,000 member ...

. * ''Phlegethon'' (1866 - 1887) :This locomotive was built at Swindon.

Phlegethon In Greek mythology, the river Phlegethon ( Φλεγέθων, English translation: "flaming") or Pyriphlegethon (Πυριφλεγέθων, English translation: "fire-flaming") was one of the five rivers in the infernal regions of the underworld, ...

was one of the five rivers of the Greek underworld and the name had previously been carried by a Fire Fly Class locomotive. * ''Pollux'' (1866 - 1877) :This locomotive was built at Swindon. Pollux was the twin of Castor in Greek mythology; the name had previously been carried on a Fire Fly Class locomotive. * ''Roberts'' (1865 - 1877) :Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company. It was named after Richard Roberts of

Sharp, Roberts and Company Sharp, Stewart and Company was a steam locomotive manufacturer, initially located in Manchester, England. The company was formed in 1843 upon the demise of Sharp, Roberts & Co.. It moved to Glasgow, Scotland, in 1888, eventually amalgamating wit ...

*''Sharp'' (1866 - 1887) :This locomotive was built by the Avonside Engine Company, it was named after Thomas Sharp of

Sharp Stewart and Company Sharp, Stewart and Company was a steam locomotive manufacturer, initially located in Manchester, England. The company was formed in 1843 upon the demise of Sharp, Roberts & Co.. It moved to Glasgow, Scotland, in 1888, eventually amalgamating wi ...

. * ''Slaughter'' (1865 - 1892) :Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company, this locomotive was initially named after Edward Slaughter one of its partners, but was soon renamed ''Avonside'' when the business changed its name to become the Avonside Engine Company. * ''Stewart'' (1866 - 1877) :This locomotive was built by the Avonside Engine Company, and named after Charles Stewart of

. * ''Wood'' (1866 - 1892) :This locomotive was built by the Avonside Engine Company. It was probably named after Frederick Wood, a railway engineer.

Tank locomotives

* ''Beyer'' (1877 - 1887) * ''Bury'' (1877 - 1892) * ''Cerberus'' (1877 - 1892) * ''Hedley'' (1877 - 1892) :After withdrawal, ''Hedley'' was used as a stationary boiler at Conwil Quarry from 1893, then was moved to

Neath Neath (; cy, Castell-nedd) is a market town and Community (Wales), community situated in the Neath Port Talbot, Neath Port Talbot County Borough, Wales. The town had a population of 50,658 in 2011. The community of the parish of Neath had a po ...

in 1905. It ceased work in 1914 but was not

cut up Cut Up is a Swedish death metal band formed by former members of Vomitory (band), Vomitory in 2014, and is currently signed to Metal Blade Records. Members * Erik Rundqvist – bass guitar, vocals * Andreas Björnson – guitar, vocals * And ...

- at Swindon - until 1929. * ''Melling'' (1877 - 1892) * ''Ostrich'' (1877 - 1892) * ''Penn'' (1877 - 1892) * ''Pollux'' (1877 - 1892) * ''Roberts'' (1877 - 1892) * ''Stewart'' (1877 - 1892) :This locomotive worked the last broad gauge train on the Falmouth branch on 20 May 1892, in company with ''

Vulcan Vulcan may refer to: Mythology * Vulcan (mythology), the god of fire, volcanoes, metalworking, and the forge in Roman mythology Arts, entertainment and media Film and television * Vulcan (''Star Trek''), name of a fictional race and their home p ...

''.

References

* * * {{GWR Locomotives

Hawthorn Hawthorn or Hawthorns may refer to: Plants * '' Crataegus'' (hawthorn), a large genus of shrubs and trees in the family Rosaceae * ''Rhaphiolepis'' (hawthorn), a genus of about 15 species of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the family Rosace ...

2-4-0 locomotives 2-4-0T locomotives Avonside locomotives Broad gauge (7 feet) railway locomotives Railway locomotives introduced in 1865