Thunderer was the first of a pair of steam 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 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 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 (15,904 km), but its boiler section was kept as a stationary unit.

See also

  • GWR Haigh Foundry locomotives, further geared locomotives

References

  • Reed, P. J. T. (February 1953). White, D. E. (ed.). The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, Part 2: Broad Gauge. Kenilworth: RCTS. ISBN 0-901115-32-0. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  • Waters, Laurence (1999). The Great Western Broad Gauge. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-2634-3 – via Archive.org.

kit built finescale 4mm,gwr 1838 04.02.2.2 thunderer broad gauge

GWR

Alten GWRLokomotive aus den 1930er Jahren in South Devon UK

Great Western Railway Ten Wheel Freight Engine Great western railway

GWR Caledonia Works