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.
Hawk (Slaughter, Grüning & Co. 591? of 1859); GWR no. 2108; withdrawn 1885Named after the bird of prey,
hawk.
Giraffe (SG 365 of 1859); – 1877) GWR no. 2112; withdrawn 18Giraffe hauled the first train on the Launceston and South Devon Railway on 1 June 1865 with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.
Lion (SG 366 of 1859); GWR no. 2113; withdrawn 1883Named after the powerful animal,
lion.
Antelope (SG 367 of 1859); GWR no. 2114; withdrawn 1884Named after the swift animal,
antelope.
Tiger (SG 411 of 1860); GWR no. 2116; withdrawn 1884Named after the powerful animal,
tiger.
Hector (SG 412 of 1860); GWR no. 2117; withdrawn 1892Named after the Greek mythological character,
Hector.
Dart (SG 559 of 1863); GWR no. 2119; withdrawn 1885Dart hauled the first train on the Launceston and South Devon Railway on 1 June 1865 with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.
Eagle (SG 360 of 1859); GWR no. 2106; withdrawn 1876Named after the bird of prey,
eagle.
Elk (SG 361 of 1859); GWR no. 2107; withdrawn 1877Just two days after the opening of the railway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.
Lynx (SG 363 of 1859); GWR no. 2109; withdrawn 1876Named after the strong animal,
lynx.
Gazelle (SG 364 of 1859); GWR no. 2110; withdrawn 1865Named after the swift animal,
gazelle.
Mazeppa (SG 362 of 1859); GWR no. 2111; withdrawn 1885Named after an epic poem,
Mazeppa by
Lord Byron.
Wolf (SG 368 of 1859); GWR no. 2115; withdrawn 1878Named after the strong animal, wolf.
Cato (SG 522 of 1863); GWR no. 2118; withdrawn 1877Cato was a name shared by many famous Romans.
Pollux (SG 592 of 1865); GWR no. 2120; withdrawn 1892Named after the Greek mythological character,
Pollux, it had originally been intended to be named
Tamar after the
River Tamar.
Castor (SG 593 of 1865) GWR no. 2121; withdrawn 1882Named after the Greek mythological character'
Castor, it had originally intended to be named
Fal after the
River Fal.