GWR 7 (Armstrong) Class
Encyclopedia
The William Dean 7 or Armstrong Class refers to a group of four prototype 4-4-0 double-frame locomotives built at the Swindon Works of the Great Western Railway
in 1894. They were nominal renewals of four of Dean's Dean experimental locomotives|"experimental locomotives", Nos. 7, 8, 14 and 16. Had it not been for the recent derailing of one of his 3001 Class
2-2-2s in Box Tunnel, these engines would probably have been rebuilt as 2-2-2s; in the event they emerged as double-framed four-coupled engines with 7' driving wheels and a front bogie similar to that used on the 3031 Class
. The four locomotives, which with their double-curved running plates were exceptionally handsome, were named as follows:
Since Gooch, Brunel and Saunders (one-time secretary to the GWR) were all deceased by 1894, it can be assumed that the Armstrong referred to was Joseph Armstrong
, who had died in 1877, rather than his brother George
who in 1894 was still hard at work in the employment of the GWR.
At the end of the 19th century the four locos ran between London and Bristol, but after about 1910 they were moved to Wolverhampton and worked north from there. Rather later, between 1915 and 1923, all four were rebuilt with smaller driving wheels and became members of the Badminton Class
, and were duly renumbered 4169-4172..
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
in 1894. They were nominal renewals of four of Dean's Dean experimental locomotives|"experimental locomotives", Nos. 7, 8, 14 and 16. Had it not been for the recent derailing of one of his 3001 Class
GWR 3001 Class
The 3001 Class as constructed by William Dean at the Swindon Works of the Great Western Railway in 1891-2 was the culmination of the tradition of GWR 2-2-2 locomotives that had begun with Gooch's North Star over 50 years earlier...
2-2-2s in Box Tunnel, these engines would probably have been rebuilt as 2-2-2s; in the event they emerged as double-framed four-coupled engines with 7' driving wheels and a front bogie similar to that used on the 3031 Class
GWR 3031 Class
The Dean Single, 3031 Class, or Achilles Class was a type of steam locomotive built by the Great Western Railway between 1891 and 1899. They were designed by William Dean for passenger work...
. The four locomotives, which with their double-curved running plates were exceptionally handsome, were named as follows:
- 7 Charles Saunders (first), Armstrong (second)
- 8 Gooch
- 14 Brunel
- 16 Charles Saunders
Since Gooch, Brunel and Saunders (one-time secretary to the GWR) were all deceased by 1894, it can be assumed that the Armstrong referred to was Joseph Armstrong
Joseph Armstrong (engineer)
Joseph Armstrong was a British locomotive engineer and the second locomotive superintendent of the Great Western Railway...
, who had died in 1877, rather than his brother George
George Armstrong (engineer)
George Armstrong was in charge of standard gauge steam locomotives for the Great Western Railway at Stafford Road Works, Wolverhampton from 1864 to 1897...
who in 1894 was still hard at work in the employment of the GWR.
At the end of the 19th century the four locos ran between London and Bristol, but after about 1910 they were moved to Wolverhampton and worked north from there. Rather later, between 1915 and 1923, all four were rebuilt with smaller driving wheels and became members of the Badminton Class
GWR 4100 Class
In 1897 the Great Western Railway introduced the Badminton class express passenger 4-4-0 steam locomotives as a development from the earlier Duke class...
, and were duly renumbered 4169-4172..