The
Great Western RailwaySun Class were
2-2-2broad gaugesteam locomotives for passenger train work. This class was introduced into service between April 1840 and January 1842, and withdrawn between January 1864 and June 1879.
A smaller-wheeled version of the
Fire Fly Class for working trains on the hilly sections of line west of
Swindon, they did not prove heavy enough for the task and were later altered to become 2-2-2T tank locomotives. Later still Sun, Hesperus, Gazelle, Wolf, and Assagais were given higher pressure boilers and in this form ran until 1879; the last unrebuilt locomotive having been withdrawn in 1872.
From about 1865, the Sun Class was known as the Wolf Class.
Built by
R and W Hawthorn and Company with 14 in × 18 in (356 mm × 457 mm), dia × stroke, cylinders, this locomotive was named after the goddess
Aurora.
Comet (1840 - 1871)
Built by R and W Hawthorn and Company with 14 in × 18 in (356 mm × 457 mm), dia × stroke, cylinders, this locomotive was named after a fast moving heavenly body, a
comet.
Creese (1842 - 1866)
Built by Stothert and Slaughter, this locomotive was named after the
Kris, a short wavy dagger.
Djerid (1841 - 1870)
Built by Stothert and Slaughter, this locomotive was named after a throwing spear, the
djerid
Eclipse (1840 - 1864)
Built by R and W Hawthorn and Company.
Gazelle (1841 - 1879)
Built by Sharp, Roberts and Company, this locomotive was named after the swift animal,
gazelle.
Giraffe (1841 - 1872)
Built by Sharp, Roberts and Company, this locomotive was named after the swift animal,
giraffe.
Hesperus (1841 - 1876)
Built by R and W Hawthorn and Company with 14 in × 18 in (356 mm × 457 mm), dia × stroke, and an experimental boiler, it was later rebuilt with a conventional one. It was named after
Hesperus a character in Roman mythology.
Javelin (1841 - 1870)
Built by Stothert and Slaughter, this locomotive was named after a thrown weapon, a
javelin.
Lance (1841 - 1870)
Built by Stothert and Slaughter, the name is that of a thrown weapon, a
lance.
Meridian (1840 - 1870)
Built by R and W Hawthorn and Company.
Meteor (1840 - 1864)
Built by R and W Hawthorn and Company, this locomotive was named after a fast moving heavenly body, a
Meteor.
Rocket (1841 - 1870)
Built by Stothert and Slaughter, this locomotive was named after a swift projectile, a
rocket
Stiletto (1841 - 1870)
Built by Stothert and Slaughter.
Sun (1840 - 1873)
Built by R and W Hawthorn and Company, this locomotive was named after the
Sun.
Sunbeam (1840 - 1870)
Built by R and W Hawthorn and Company.
Wolf (1841 - 1873)
Built by Sharp, Roberts and Company, this locomotive was named after the strong animal,
wolf.
Yataghan (1841 - 1871)
Built by Stothert and Slaughter.
Zebra (1841 - 1871)
Built by Sharp, Roberts and Company, this locomotive was named after the fast animal, the
zebra.
References
Reed, P. J. T. (February 1953). White, D. E. (ed.). The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, Part 2: Broad Gauge. Kenilworth:
RCTS. pp. B15–B16.
ISBN0-901115-32-0.