South Devon Railway Eagle class

South Devon Railway Eagle class
Type and origin
Power type Steam
Designer Daniel Gooch
Builder Slaughter, Grüning and Company
Serial number 360–368, 411–412, 522, 559, 591–593
Build date 1859–1865
Total produced 16
Specifications
Configuration 4-4-0ST
UIC classification 2′B n2t
Gauge 7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm)
Leading wheel
diameter		 3 ft 6 in (1.067 m)
Driver diameter 5 ft 6 in (1.676 m)
Wheelbase 18 ft 0 in (5.49 m)
Water capacity 1,100 imp gal (5,000 l; 1,300 US gal)
Cylinder size 16 1⁄2 in × 24 in (419 mm × 610 mm)
Career
Operator(s)
Class Eagle
Withdrawn 1876–1892
Disposition All scrapped

The Eagle class were sixteen 4-4-0 saddle tank broad gauge locomotives operated on the South Devon Railway, Cornwall Railway and associated adjacent railways. They were designed for passenger trains on this steep and sharply curved line but were also used on goods trains when required.

They were ordered by Evans, Walker and Gooch who were contracted to operate the locomotives for both the railways. They were designed by Daniel Gooch a development of his earlier Comet class with slightly smaller wheels and larger tanks containing 1,100 gallons, a 37.5% increase, and built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company.

From 1 July 1866 the locomotives were bought by the South Devon Railway, after which they were operated as a combined fleet over both railways, but they continued to be accounted to their original owner. On 1 February 1876 the South Devon Railway was amalgamated with the Great Western Railway, the locomotives were given numbers by their new owners but continued to carry their names too.

Locomotives

South Devon Railway

Named after the bird of prey, hawk.
Giraffe hauled the first train on the Launceston and South Devon Railway on 1 June 1865 with Dart.
The locomotive was named after the animal, giraffe.
Named after the powerful animal, lion.
Named after the swift animal, antelope.
Named after the powerful animal, tiger.
Named after the Greek mythological character, Hector.
Dart hauled the first train on the Launceston and South Devon Railway on 1 June 1865 with Giraffe.
The locomotive was named after the dart missile.

Cornwall Railway

Named after the bird of prey, eagle.
Just two days after the opening of the railway Elk was derailed near St Germans and fell off Grove viaduct with fatal consequences.
The locomotive was named after the animal, elk.
Named after the strong animal, lynx.
Named after the swift animal, gazelle.
Named after an epic poem, Mazeppa by Lord Byron.
Named after the strong animal, wolf.
Cato was a name shared by many famous Romans.
Named after the Greek mythological character, Pollux, it had originally been intended to be named Tamar after the River Tamar.
Named after the Greek mythological character' Castor, it had originally intended to be named Fal after the River Fal.

References