GWR Firefly Class

The Firefly was a class of broad gauge 2-2-2 steam locomotives used for passenger services on the Great Western Railway. The class was introduced into service between March 1840 and December 1842, and withdrawn between December 1863 and July 1879.

Fire Fly
Replica of the Great Western Railway Gooch 7 foot gauge "Priam" Class, or “Firefly” Class 2-2-2 "Fire Fly”.
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Daniel Gooch Builder Jones, Turner and Evans (6) Sharp, Roberts and Company (10) Fenton, Murray and Jackson (20) G. and J. Rennie (2) R. B. Longridge and Company (6) Stothert, Slaughter and Company (2) Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company (16) Build date 1840–1842 Total produced 62
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-2-2 Gauge 7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm) Leading dia. 4 ft 0 in (1.219 m) Driver dia. 7 ft 0 in (2.134 m) Trailing dia. 4 ft 0 in (1.219 m) Wheelbase 13 ft 2 in (4.013 m) Cylinder size 15 in × 18 in (381 mm × 457 mm) dia x stroke later 16-by-20-inch (406 mm × 508 mm)
Career Operators Great Western Railway Class Fire Fly, or Priam Disposition Original 62 withdrawn and scrapped, new replica built in 2005

Following the success of the Star class locomotives introduced to the Great Western Railway by Daniel Gooch, Gooch set to work to develop a new class based on North Star, but with larger boilers. The result was the Fire Fly, later followed by 61 similar locomotives designated the same class.

From about 1865, the Fire Fly Class locomotives became part of the Priam Class, along with the Prince Class locomotives.

The original Fire Fly is said to have covered the 30.75 miles (49.49 km) from Twyford to London Paddington in 37 minutes, an average speed of 50 miles per hour (80 km/h), which was unprecedented in 1840.

Locomotives

A to D

Acheron

1842–1866. Built by Fenton, Murray and Jackson. The name Acheron comes from a Greek river and was later carried by a Hawthorn class locomotive.

Achilles

1841–1867. Built by Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company. The name is that of a Greek mythological warrior. See Achilles.

Actaeon

1841–1868. Built by Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company, the name is that of a hero from Greek mythology. See Actaeon.

Arab

1841–1870. Built by G and J Rennie. An Arab is a member of an ethnic group found mainly in the Middle East and Africa.

Argus

1842–1873. Built by Fenton, Murray and Jackson. Argus was the builder of the Argo, a ship in Greek mythology.

Arrow

1841–1864. Built by Stothert and Slaughter. An arrow is a pointed projectile weapon.

Bellona

1841–1870. Built by Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company. Bellona was a Roman goddess.

Castor

1841–1874. Built by Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company. Castor was the twin of Pollux in Greek mythology.

Centaur

1841–1867. Built by Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company. A centaur is a Greek mythological creature, half human and half horse.

Cerebus

1841–1866. Built by Fenton, Murray and Jackson. Cerebus was a character in Greek mythology and the name was later carried by a Hawthorn class locomotive.

Charon

1840–1878. Built by Fenton, Murray and Jackson. In Greek mythology, Charon was the ferryman who carried the dead in his boat.

Cyclops

1840–1865. Built by Fenton, Murray and Jackson. The Cyclopes were one-eyed figures in Greek mythology.

Damon

1842–1870. Built by Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company. Damon was a follower of the Greek philosopher, Pythagoras.

Dart

1841–1870. Built by Stothert and Slaughter. A dart is a projectile weapon.

E to H

Electra

1842–1867. Built by Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company. In Greek mythology, Electra was daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra.

Erebus

1842–1873. Built by Fenton, Murray and Jackson. Erebus was the son of the primordial Greek god, Chaos.

Falcon

1840–1867. Built by Sharp, Roberts and Company. A falcon is a kind of bird of prey.

Fire Ball

1840–1866. Built by Jones, Turner and Evans with a 13-foot-4-inch (4.06 m) wheelbase, Fire Ball hauled the first train from Temple Meads to Bath on 31 August 1840, and from Temple Meads to Bridgwater on 14 June 1841. It was rebuilt c.1849 as a saddle tank locomotive. This was one of six Fire Fly class locomotives named with a fire theme - the term fire ball refers to an explosion of fire.

Fire Brand

1840–1866. Built by Jones, Turner and Evans with a 13-foot-4-inch (4.06 m) wheelbase. A firebrand is a piece of burning wood, but also used to denote a person with a fiery temperament.

Fire Fly

1840–1870. Built by Jones, Turner and Evans with a 13-foot-4-inch (4.06 m) wheelbase. A firefly is a luminous beetle.

Fire King

1840–1875. This locomotive crashed in front of Isambard Kingdom Brunel on 25 October 1840, the first recorded accident on the railway. The driver and a guard were killed when Fire King and its goods train failed to stop at the temporary terminus at Faringdon Road. It had been built by Jones, Turner and Evans with a 13-foot-4-inch (4.06 m) wheelbase, and was rebuilt circa 1849 as a saddle tank locomotive.

Ganymede

1842–1878. Built by Fenton, Murray and Jackson. Ganymede was a hero in Greek mythology.

Gorgon

1841–1878. Built by Fenton, Murray and Jackson. The Gorgon was a Greek mythological monster with hair of living snakes.

Greyhound

1841–1866. Built by Sharp, Roberts and Company. A greyhound is a kind of dog bred for its speed.

Harpy

1841–1873. Built by Fenton, Murray and Jackson. A harpy was a Greek mythological winged spirit.

Hawk

1840–1865. Built by Sharp, Roberts and Company. A hawk is a kind of bird of prey; the name was later carried by a Hawthorn class locomotive.

Hecate

1841–1867. Built by Fenton, Murray and Jackson. Hecate was a Greek goddess of childbirth.

Hector

1841–1866. Built by Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company. Hector was a Greek hero in the Trojan War.

Hydra

1842–1865. Built by Fenton, Murray and Jackson. The Hydra was a many-headed serpent in Greek mythology.

I to N

Ixion

1841–1879. Built by Fenton, Murray and Jackson, this was the locomotive that represented the broad gauge at the Gauge Commission trials of 1845, achieving a maximum of 61 miles per hour (98 km/h). Ixion was a king in Greek mythology.

Jupiter

1841–1867. Built by R. B. Longridge and Company. This locomotive was named after Jupiter, a senior Roman god.

Leopard

1840–1878. Built by Sharp, Roberts and Company. A leopard is a large member of the cat family.

Lethe

1842–1878. Built by Fenton, Murray and Jackson. Lethe is one of the rivers in Hades, the Greek underworld, and drinking its waters caused forgetfulness.

Lucifer

1841–1870. Built by R B Longridge and Company. Lucifer was the poetic Roman name for the morning star.

Lynx

1840–1870. Built by Sharp, Roberts and Company. A lynx is a kind of wild cat.

Mars

1841–1868. Built by R B Longridge and Company. This locomotive was named after Mars, the Roman god of war.

Mazeppa

1841–1868. Built by G and J Rennie. Mazeppa was a popular Victorian heroic poem.

Medea

1842–1873. Built by Fenton, Murray and Jackson. Medea was a princess in Greek mythology.

Medusa

1842–1864. Built by Fenton, Murray and Jackson. Medusa was a Greek mythological monster whose look could turn a person to stone.

Mentor

1841–1867. Built by Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company. The original mentor was a friend of Odysseus who featured in Greek mythology.

Mercury

1841–1865. Built by R B Longridge and Company. This locomotive was named after Mercury, a Roman god.

Milo

1841–1866. Built by Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company. This locomotive was probably named after Titus Annius Milo, a Roman politician.

Minos

1841–1870. Built by Fenton, Murray and Jackson. Minos was a king of Crete featured in Greek mythology.

N to W

Orion

1842–1867. Built by Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company. Rebuilt as a 4-2-2ST saddle tank locomotive. This locomotive was probably named after Orion of Thebes, a Grecian scholar.

Ostrich

1840–1865. Built by Sharp, Roberts and Company. An ostrich is a large flightless bird; the name was later carried by a Hawthorn class locomotive.

Panther

1840–1869. Built by Sharp, Roberts and Company. A panther is a big cat and appears in Greek mythology as an animal that carried gods.

Pegasus

1842–1868. Built by Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company. Pegasus was the winged horse of Greek mythology.

Phlegethon

1842–1866. Built by Fenton, Murray and Jackson, this locomotive had the privilege of powering Queen Victoria's first railway journey on 13 June 1842. Phlegethon was one of the five rivers of the Greek underworld. The name was later carried by a Hawthorn class locomotive.

Phoenix

1842–1870. Built by Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company. The phoenix was a Greek mythological bird that is reborn from the ashes of its fiery death.

Pluto

1841–1870. Built by Fenton, Murray and Jackson. This locomotive was named after Pluto, the Roman god of the underworld.

Pollux

1842–1866. Built by Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company. Pollux was the twin of Castor in Greek mythology; the name was later transferred to a Hawthorn class locomotive.

Priam

1842–1864. Built by Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company. Priam was the king of Troy during the Trojan War.

Proserpine

1842–1873. Built by Fenton, Murray and Jackson. Proserpine was the goddess of the Greek underworld.

Saturn

1841–1878. Built by R B Longridge and Company. This locomotive is named after Saturn, the Roman god of the harvest.

Spit Fire

1840–1878. Built by Jones, Turner and Evans with a 13-foot-4-inch (4.06 m) wheelbase.

Stag

1840–1870. Built by Sharp, Roberts and Company. A stag is a male deer.

Stentor

1842–1867. Built by Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company. Stentor was a herald in the Trojan War.

Tiger

1840–1873. Built by Sharp, Roberts and Company, it derailed near Chippenham on 7 September 1841 due to an earthslip, although Rising Star, which was coupled in front, ran over the damaged track without mishap. A tiger is a big cat.

Venus

1841–1870. Built by R B Longridge and Company. This locomotive was named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love.

Vesta

1841–1864. Built by Fenton, Murray and Jackson. Vesta was the Roman goddess of the home.

Vulture

1840–1870. Built by Sharp, Roberts and Company. A vulture is a large scavenging bird.

Wild Fire

1840–1867. Built by Jones, Turner and Evans with a 13-foot-4-inch (4.06 m) wheelbase. One of six Firefly Class locomotives named with a fire theme; a wildfire is another name for a forest fire.

Accidents and incidents

• On 25 November 1852, Lynx was hauling a passenger train which was derailed at Gatcombe, Gloucestershire.^[1]

Replica

GWR Firefly replica at Didcot Railway Centre

• Firefly (2005)

A 63rd member of the Fire Fly class was unveiled to the public in 2005. It is a working replica of the original Fire Fly and is based at Didcot Railway Centre.

In literature

• A silver model of a Firefly Class locomotive provides a plotline in the novel "The Silver Locomotive Mystery" by Edward Marston, published 2009.

References

1. Earnshaw, Alan (1990). Trains in Trouble: Vol. 6. Penryn: Atlantic Books. p. 2. ISBN 0-906899-37-0.

Sources

• Reed, P. J. T. (February 1953). White, D. E. (ed.). The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, Part 2: Broad Gauge. Kenilworth: RCTS. pp. B13 – B15. ISBN 0-901115-32-0.
• Rolt, L.T.C. (1970). Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Pelican.
• Waters, Laurence (1999). The Great Western Broad Gauge. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-2634-3 – via Archive.org.