GWR 378 Class
Encyclopedia
The GWR 378 Class was a class of 30 standard-gauge 2-2-2
steam locomotives on the Great Western Railway
in Britain
. They were introduced in 1866, and the class remained intact until 1898. Several were altered to the 0-6-0
wheel arrangement, and the last was withdrawn from service in 1920.
designed a class of 2-2-2
standard-gauge passenger locomotives, ten of which were built in 1866 at the Swindon Works
of the Great Western Railway
(GWR). They were the first standard-gauge passenger tender locomotives to be built at Swindon. In 1869, a further 20 were built, also at Swindon, which differed little from the first 10, although the safety-valve covers were of different shape.
The locomotives were built as follows:
Ten locomotives were numbered 1112–21 when new, in a separate series designated for engines paid for out of receipts as opposed to capital. They were renumbered into the capital list as 577–586 in July or August 1870, when a similar quantity of old broad-gauge engines were taken out of service.
Two of the 378 class were named when new. No. 378 (built 1866) was named Sir Daniel in honour of Sir Daniel Gooch
, who had resigned from the GWR in 1864; as a result, the class was sometimes known as the Sir Daniel class. No. 471 (built 1869) was named Sir Watkin, after Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn
; the name was taken from a broad-gauge locomotive of the Sir Watkin class
, and the latter locomotive may have received the name Wynn in replacement. The name was removed from no. 471 when it was rebuilt as an 0-6-0 in 1901, but no. 378 retained its name until it was withdrawn in 1898.
Two more were named later on. Nos. 380 and 381 received the names North Star and Morning Star respectively, these being the names of the two oldest members of the broad-gauge Star class
, which were withdrawn in 1871 and 1869 respectively. Both 380 and 381 lost their names .
The Sir Daniels worked expresses from London to Wolverhampton, to Worcester, and northwards, later also working into Somerset, south Wales and elsewhere as the standard gauge spread. As late as 1893 Charles Rous-Marten noted a fine run with one of the class on a principal Cornish express between Exeter and Bristol.
Three of the locomotives – nos. 378, 383 & 479 – were scrapped between 1898 and 1900, but William Dean then began rebuilding the remainder as 0-6-0
goods engines. In 1902, after 23 had been so treated, G.J. Churchward
(Dean's successor) decided that no more rebuilding would be carried out, and so nos. 382/6, 478 & 579 were scrapped unaltered in 1903 and 1904.
s to a design by William Dean. Apart from the provision of new wheels of 5 in 2 in (1.57 m) diameter, the only alterations necessary were to the frames.
The 0-6-0 locomotives were withdrawn between 1903 and 1920, the last two (nos. 381 & 474) lasting long enough to be placed in the "ungrouped" power classification and "uncoloured" weight classification in 1919.
2-2-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-2-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle two powered driving wheels on one axle, and two trailing wheels on one axle. The wheel arrangement both provided more stability and enabled a larger firebox...
steam locomotives on the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
in Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. They were introduced in 1866, and the class remained intact until 1898. Several were altered to the 0-6-0
0-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...
wheel arrangement, and the last was withdrawn from service in 1920.
History
Joseph ArmstrongJoseph Armstrong (engineer)
Joseph Armstrong was a British locomotive engineer and the second locomotive superintendent of the Great Western Railway...
designed a class of 2-2-2
2-2-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-2-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle two powered driving wheels on one axle, and two trailing wheels on one axle. The wheel arrangement both provided more stability and enabled a larger firebox...
standard-gauge passenger locomotives, ten of which were built in 1866 at the Swindon Works
Swindon Works
Swindon railway works were built by the Great Western Railway in 1841 in Swindon in the English county of Wiltshire.-History:In 1835 Parliament approved the construction of a railway between London and Bristol. Its Chief Engineer was Isambard Kingdom Brunel.From 1836, Brunel had been buying...
of the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
(GWR). They were the first standard-gauge passenger tender locomotives to be built at Swindon. In 1869, a further 20 were built, also at Swindon, which differed little from the first 10, although the safety-valve covers were of different shape.
The locomotives were built as follows:
| Dates built | Works nos. | Quantity | GWR numbers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September–October 1866 | 1st Lot Passenger | 69–78 | 10 | 378–387 |
| June 1869 | 19th Lot | 175–177 | 3 | 471–3 |
| June–August 1869 | 19th Lot | 178–187 | 10 | 1112–21 (later 577–586) |
| August–September 1869 | 19th Lot | 188–190 | 7 | 474–480 |
Ten locomotives were numbered 1112–21 when new, in a separate series designated for engines paid for out of receipts as opposed to capital. They were renumbered into the capital list as 577–586 in July or August 1870, when a similar quantity of old broad-gauge engines were taken out of service.
Two of the 378 class were named when new. No. 378 (built 1866) was named Sir Daniel in honour of Sir Daniel Gooch
Daniel Gooch
Sir Daniel Gooch, 1st Baronet was an English railway and transatlantic cable engineer and Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1865 to 1885...
, who had resigned from the GWR in 1864; as a result, the class was sometimes known as the Sir Daniel class. No. 471 (built 1869) was named Sir Watkin, after Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn
Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 6th Baronet
Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 6th Baronet was a Welsh Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1841 to 1885....
; the name was taken from a broad-gauge locomotive of the Sir Watkin class
GWR Sir Watkin Class
The Great Western Railway Sir Watkin Class were 0-6-0T broad gauge steam locomotives with side tanks. They were designed for working goods trains through to the underground Metropolitan Railway in London. This class was introduced into service between December 1865 and the last was withdrawn at the...
, and the latter locomotive may have received the name Wynn in replacement. The name was removed from no. 471 when it was rebuilt as an 0-6-0 in 1901, but no. 378 retained its name until it was withdrawn in 1898.
Two more were named later on. Nos. 380 and 381 received the names North Star and Morning Star respectively, these being the names of the two oldest members of the broad-gauge Star class
GWR Star Class
The Great Western Railway Star Class of 2-2-2 broad gauge steam locomotives were used for passenger train work. Designed by Robert Stephenson, the class was introduced into service between November 1838 and November 1841, and withdrawn between April 1864 and September 1871.A total of twelve Star...
, which were withdrawn in 1871 and 1869 respectively. Both 380 and 381 lost their names .
The Sir Daniels worked expresses from London to Wolverhampton, to Worcester, and northwards, later also working into Somerset, south Wales and elsewhere as the standard gauge spread. As late as 1893 Charles Rous-Marten noted a fine run with one of the class on a principal Cornish express between Exeter and Bristol.
Three of the locomotives – nos. 378, 383 & 479 – were scrapped between 1898 and 1900, but William Dean then began rebuilding the remainder as 0-6-0
0-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...
goods engines. In 1902, after 23 had been so treated, G.J. Churchward
George Jackson Churchward
George Jackson Churchward CBE was Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Great Western Railway in the United Kingdom from 1902 to 1922.-Early career:...
(Dean's successor) decided that no more rebuilding would be carried out, and so nos. 382/6, 478 & 579 were scrapped unaltered in 1903 and 1904.
0-6-0 rebuilds
Between 1900 and 1902, 23 of the Sir Daniel 2-2-2s were rebuilt as 0-6-00-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...
s to a design by William Dean. Apart from the provision of new wheels of 5 in 2 in (1.57 m) diameter, the only alterations necessary were to the frames.
The 0-6-0 locomotives were withdrawn between 1903 and 1920, the last two (nos. 381 & 474) lasting long enough to be placed in the "ungrouped" power classification and "uncoloured" weight classification in 1919.