GWR Haigh Foundry locomotives

Specifications
Configuration:;
• Whyte	2-2-2; 2-2-2T (after rebuild)
Gauge	7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm)
Leading dia.	3 ft 5 in (1,041 mm)
Driver dia.	6 ft 4 in (1,930 mm); 6 ft 0 in (1,829 mm) (after rebuild)
Trailing dia.	3 ft 5 in (1,041 mm)
Wheelbase	13 ft 0 in (3.96 m)
Cylinder size	14.75 in × 18 in (375 mm × 457 mm); 13 in × 18 in (330 mm × 457 mm) (first rebuild); 15 in × 18 in (381 mm × 457 mm) (second rebuild)

Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Builder	Haigh Foundry
Serial number	25–26
Build date	1838
Total produced	2

GWR Snake and Viper; South Devon Railway Exe and Teign
Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Builder	Haigh Foundry
Serial number	25–26
Build date	1838
Total produced	2
Specifications
Configuration:;
• Whyte	2-2-2; 2-2-2T (after rebuild)
Gauge	7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm)
Leading dia.	3 ft 5 in (1,041 mm)
Driver dia.	6 ft 4 in (1,930 mm); 6 ft 0 in (1,829 mm) (after rebuild)
Trailing dia.	3 ft 5 in (1,041 mm)
Wheelbase	13 ft 0 in (3.96 m)
Cylinder size	14.75 in × 18 in (375 mm × 457 mm); 13 in × 18 in (330 mm × 457 mm) (first rebuild); 15 in × 18 in (381 mm × 457 mm) (second rebuild)
Career
Operators	Great Western Railway; South Devon Railway
Number in class	2
Withdrawn	1868-1869
Disposition	Unknown, probably scrapped

The 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 14.75-by-18-inch (375 mm × 457 mm) cylinders and the driving wheels geared 2:3 in order to keep the cylinder stroke speed low while allowing high track speed, in line with Brunel's specifications. Within a couple of years they had been rebuilt with 13 in × 18 in (330 mm × 457 mm) and conventional drive. They were later converted to 2-2-2T tank locomotives, possibly when they were sent to work the South Devon Railway, and at some time fitted with 6 ft 0 in (1,829 mm) driving wheels and 15 in × 18 in (381 mm × 457 mm) cylinders.

Names

Snake (Haigh Foundry 25; 1838–1869)

Between 1846 and 1851 it carried a different name, Exe, while working on the South Devon Railway, after the River Exe; it reverted to Snake when it returned to the Great Western Railway.

Viper (Haigh Foundry 26; 1838–1868)

Between 1846 and 1851 it carried a different name, Teign, while working on the South Devon Railway, after the River Teign; it reverted to Viper when it returned to the Great Western Railway.

References

Reed, P. J. T. (February 1953). White, D. E. (ed.). The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, Part 2: Broad Gauge. Kenilworth: RCTS. p. B11. ISBN 0-901115-32-0.
Waters, Laurence (1999). The Great Western Broad Gauge. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-2634-3.

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