In this, the third volume of Reverend Canon Brian Arman’s account of the broad gauge motive power of the Great Western Railway, he covers the period after the opening of the Swindon Works, 1846-1852.
Opened in 1843, Swindon Works was conceived after Isambard Kingdom Brunel took on Daniel Gooch to resolve the substantial repair problems which had been created by the wide range of locomotives purchased under Brunel. Gooch’s solution was to create a central repair works and the site chosen for this was Swindon, as it was seen to be a "convenient division of the Great Western line for engine working". The machinery Gooch purchased to equip the works was of high quality, made by reputable manufacturers, and was to stand the test of time.
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 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.
In The Broad Gauge Engines of the Great Western Railway: Part 3: 1846-1852 Arman’s detailed account is accompanied by numerous drawings, photographs, plans and miscellaneous material.
9 colour and 165 black & white illustrations. Hardback. 208 pages.