Broad Gauge Engines of the Great Western Railway: Part 3 : 1846-1852

By 1845, the works were sufficiently developed to allow the construction of locomotives to commence. Thus, from 1846, some of the most successful and technologically advanced engines in the world were produced under the guidance of Daniel Gooch. Between 1846 and 1852, seven new designs or developments of proven prototypes were produced, culminating in the beautiful 8ft 0in. ‘Single’ express locomotives of the’ Iron Duke’ and ‘Courier’ classes. So successful were these engines and so much in advance of their time that the type would serve the broad gauge for the rest of its existence, until its sad demise in 1892. Daniel Gooch was not only a highly competent locomotive engineer but also a pioneer of the science of locomotive testing. To this end he designed and built the very first Dynamometer car in 1847 and then conducted a series of trials with his new engines to determine their thermal efficiency, cylinder performance, running qualities, wind resistance and much more.