The Great Western Railway Hawthorn Class were 2-4-0 broad gauge steam locomotives for passenger train work. This class was introduced into service in 1865, a development of the Victoria Class.
Twenty locomotives were ordered from Slaughter, Grüning and Company and given the names of famous engineers. The remaining six were built by the railway itself at Swindon and given names previously carried by the Firefly Class locomotives that they replaced.
Withdrawals started in March 1876 but the following year ten were rebuilt as 2-4-0T tank locomotives; the last survived until the end of the broad gauge on 21 May 1892.
Acheron (1866 - 1887)This locomotive was built by the Great Western Railway at Swindon. The name
Acheron comes from a Greek river and had previously been carried by a
Fire Fly Class locomotive.
Beyer (1865 - 1877)Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company. It was named after
Charles Beyer, a founder partner in the
Beyer, Peacock and Company locomotive manufacturing firm.
Blenkensop (1865 - 1892)Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company, this locomotive was named after
John Blenkinsop, a mining engineer and pioneer of railway locomotives.
Bury (1865 - 1877)Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company. This locomotive was named after Edward Bury of Bury, Curtis, and Kennedy.
Cerberus (1866 - 1877)This locomotive was built at Swindon. Cerebus was a character in
Greek mythology and the name had previously been carried by a Fire Fly
Class locomotive.
Dewrance (1865 - 1892)Built by the Slaughter, Grüning and Company, it was named after John Dewrance, an early railway engineer.
Fenton (1865 - 1892)Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company. This locomotive was named after James Fenton of
Fenton, Murray and Jackson.
Foster (1865 - 1876)Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company, it was probably named after James Foster of
Foster, Rastrick and Company.
Gooch (1865 - 1892)Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company, this locomotive was named after
Daniel Gooch, the first locomotive engineer of the Great Western Railway.
Hackworth (1865 - 1892)Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company, This locomotive was named after
Timothy Hackworth, a famous engineer.
Hawk (1865 - 1892)This locomotive was built at Swindon. A
hawk is a kind of bird of prey; the name was later carried by a Fire Fly
Class locomotive.
Hawthorn (1865 - 1876)Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company, it was named for the founder of R and W Hawthorn and Company
Hedley (1865 - 1877)Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company, it was probably named after
William Hedley, one of the pioneers of the steam locomotive.
John Gray (1865 - 1876)Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company, named after John Gray, the engineer of the
London and Brighton Railway.
Melling (1865 - 1877)Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company, it was probably named after Richard Melling, a canal engineer.
Murdoch (1865 - 1892)Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company. This locomotive was named after
William Murdoch.
Ostrich (1865 - 1877)This locomotive was built at Swindon. An
ostrich is a large flightless bird; the name had previously been carried by a Fire Fly Class locomotive.
Peacock (1866 - 1875)This locomotive was built by the Avonside Engine Company. This locomotive was named after
Richard Peacock, a founder partner in the
Beyer, Peacock and Company locomotive manufacturing firm.
Penn (1866 - 1877)This locomotive was built by the Avonside Engine Company and named after
John Penn, who served two terms as a president of the
Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
Phlegethon (1866 - 1887)This locomotive was built at Swindon.
Phlegethon was one of the five rivers of the Greek underworld and the name had previously been carried by a Fire Fly Class locomotive.
Pollux (1866 - 1877)This locomotive was built at Swindon.
Pollux was the twin of Castor in Greek mythology; the name had previously been carried on a Fire Fly Class locomotive.
Roberts (1865 - 1877)Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company. It was named after Richard Roberts of Sharp, Roberts and Company
Sharp (1866 - 1887)This locomotive was built by the Avonside Engine Company, it was named after Thomas Sharp of Sharp Stewart and Company.
Slaughter (1865 - 1892)Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company, this locomotive was initially named after Edward Slaughter one of its partners, but was soon renamed
Avonside when the business changed its name to become the Avonside Engine Company.
Stewart (1866 - 1877)This locomotive was built by the Avonside Engine Company, and named after Charles Stewart of Sharp Stewart and Company.
Wood (1866 - 1892)This locomotive was built by the Avonside Engine Company. It was probably named after Frederick Wood, a railway engineer.
Beyer (1877 - 1887)Bury (1877 - 1892)Cerberus (1877 - 1892)Hedley (1877 - 1892)After withdrawal,
Hedley was used as a stationary boiler at Conwil Quarry from 1893, then was moved to
Neath in 1905. It ceased work in 1914 but was not cut up - at Swindon - until 1929.
Melling (1877 - 1892)Ostrich (1877 - 1892)Penn (1877 - 1892)Pollux (1877 - 1892)Roberts (1877 - 1892)Stewart (1877 - 1892)This locomotive worked the last broad gauge train on the Falmouth branch on 20 May 1892, in company with
Vulcan.
