GWR Thunderer locomotive
Encyclopedia
Thunderer was the first of a pair of locomotives (the other being Hurricane
) built for the Great Western Railway
(GWR), England, by R. & W. Hawthorn & Co. whose design was very different from other steam locomotives. In order to meet Isambard Kingdom Brunel
's strict specifications, an 0-4-0
frame carried the 'engine', while the boiler was on a separate six-wheeled frame. The driving wheels were geared 10:27 in order to reduce the cylinder stroke speed while allowing high track speed, in line with the specifications.
The locomotive was delivered to the GWR on 6 March 1838 and ceased work in December 1839 after running only 9,882 miles, but its boiler section was kept as a stationary boiler.
GWR Hurricane locomotive
Hurricane was the second of a pair of locomotives built for the Great Western Railway by R. & W. Hawthorn & Co. whose design was very different from other steam locomotives...
) built for the Great Western Railway
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...
(GWR), England, by R. & W. Hawthorn & Co. whose design was very different from other steam locomotives. In order to meet Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, FRS , was a British civil engineer who built bridges and dockyards including the construction of the first major British railway, the Great Western Railway; a series of steamships, including the first propeller-driven transatlantic steamship; and numerous important bridges...
's strict specifications, an 0-4-0
0-4-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-0 represents one of the simplest possible types, that with two axles and four coupled wheels, all of which are driven...
frame carried the 'engine', while the boiler was on a separate six-wheeled frame. The driving wheels were geared 10:27 in order to reduce the cylinder stroke speed while allowing high track speed, in line with the specifications.
The locomotive was delivered to the GWR on 6 March 1838 and ceased work in December 1839 after running only 9,882 miles, but its boiler section was kept as a stationary boiler.
See also
- GWR Hurricane locomotiveGWR Hurricane locomotiveHurricane was the second of a pair of locomotives built for the Great Western Railway by R. & W. Hawthorn & Co. whose design was very different from other steam locomotives...
- the second Hawthorn locomotive - GWR Haigh Foundry locomotivesGWR Haigh Foundry locomotivesThe first 19 locomotives ordered by Isambard Kingdom Brunel for the Great Western Railway included two unusual Haigh Foundry locomotives.Snake and Viper were built at the Haigh Foundry in 1838 with 14¾in dia × 18in cylinders and the driving wheels geared 2:3 in order to keep the cylinder...
- further geared locomotives