GWR Thunderer locomotive

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 in order to reduce the cylinder stroke speed while allowing high track speed, in line with the specifications.

GWR Thunderer
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerT. E. Harrison
BuilderR. & W. Hawthorn & Co.
Serial number235
Build date1838
Total produced1
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte0-4-0+6
Gauge7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm)
Driver dia.6 ft 0 in (1,829 mm)
Wheelbase7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Cylinder size16 in × 20 in (406 mm × 508 mm)
Career
OperatorsGreat Western Railway
Withdrawn1839
DispositionScrapped

The locomotive was delivered to the GWR on 6 March 1838 and ceased work in December 1839[1] after running only 9,882 miles (15,904 km), but its boiler section was kept as a stationary boiler.

See also

Notes
  1. Reed 1953, p. B11

References
  • Reed, P.J.T. (February 1953). White, D.E. (ed.). The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, Part 2: Broad Gauge. Kenilworth: Railway Correspondence and Travel Society. ISBN 0-901115-32-0.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Waters, Laurence (1999). The Great Western Broad Gauge. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-2634-3.
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