Firefly - the Great Western steam engines
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About the Firefly
The Firefly class of locomotives were designed to run on Brunel's Great Western Railway. Broad gauge was designed for speed of transit, and the Firefly - the first engine built specifically for it - was no exception. Capable of speeds of over sixty miles an hour, the Firefly is what many people think of when they think of steam engines.
No original Fireflys survive, but one replica was built and runs at Didcot Railway Centre.
No original Fireflys survive, but one replica was built and runs at Didcot Railway Centre.
The Star class, her forerunners
The predecessor of the Firefly
Stephenson's "North Star" Steam Engine, 1837
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These were built by a US company and adapted to broad gauge. When they arrived, Brunel quickly realised that efficiency and speed improvements were possible and began work on redesigning the North Star. He also recruited Daniel Gooch as the first chief locomotive engineer.
Together they worked on the North Star to improve her efficiency and speed. When she arrived she had scarcely been able to pull sixteen tons at forty miles an hour. The performance improvements they made increased that to forty, while reducing the fuel used by more than half.
The Firefly class
The engines of Daniel Gooch
Engine House, Swindon, 1846
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He began work on a new engine for the broad gauge, designed to take advantage of the tracks. In 1840, the first Fire Fly was introduced, and quickly proved her performance advantages.
Over 60 would eventually be built. Concerned by manufacturing practices, Gooch set up his own factory in Swindon to produce them.
"In 1844 the Fire Fly completed a run between London and Exeter in 270 minutes"
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1845 - The Gauge Commission trials
The question of gauge
Rain Steam and Speed, the Great Western Railway,
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Brunel did request that the commission members observe the race from the footplates of the engines taking part - an offer that only one commissioner accepted. The GWR suggestion that London to Exeter be used as a route was also declined, as the Narrow Gauge companies requested a shorter distance.
The GWR put forward Ixion, a Firefly class locomotive. The narrow gauge companies put forward two engines:
- Engine A - A brand new Stephenson engine with 6ft 6 inch driving wheels and a 4-2-0 arrangement.
- No.54 Stephenson - A North Midland Railway loco with a 2-2-2 arrangement like the Firefly
Despite this the results were poor for narrow grade, particularly as No 54 Stephenson came off the tracks after 22 miles, and rolled over. Fortunately the commission observer was not on the footplate. "Engine A" reached a maximum speed of under 54 mph, towing only 50 tons.
The Ixion won the challenge. It achieved a maximum 61mph towing 80 tons, and used less fuel than either of its competitiors. Despite this the Parliamentary commitee ruled in favour of narrow gauge, even as they conceded that broad gauge had superior performance.
Despite the Parlimentary ruling in 1845 that all new railways must be narrow gauge Brunel, and later his successors, ignored them, and continued to lay broad gauge lines up until 1872.
The RailSteam website has more details on the race.
The history of the Great Western Railway
Brunel's Great Western Railway
A free ebook is available from Smashwords, covering the history of the Great Western and its engines.
Isambard Kingdom Brunel's Broad Gauge railway has its own lens.
Isambard Kingdom Brunel's Broad Gauge railway has its own lens.
Great Western Memorabilia on eBay
Pick up a bargain
Important!
The Replica
Although no originals survive, Didcot Railway Centre runs a replica - along with their collection of authentic GWR steam engines.
Didcot Railway Centre
Didcot Railway Centre
A video of the replica Firefly
Didcot Railway Centre anniversary
Youtube user TimEaston uploaded this video of the Didcot Railway Centre anniversary.
The opening speech is of interest and the Firefly replica can been seen from 2:20. You may want to expand this to full screen to read the comments.
The opening speech is of interest and the Firefly replica can been seen from 2:20. You may want to expand this to full screen to read the comments.
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About the lensmaster
Tirial&Error lensography
by tirial
My GWR series has four lenses in it, covering the history of the Great Western and then three of its engine types covering the years of Broad Gauge. more »
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