GWR Haigh Foundry locomotives

what is it?

The first 19 locomotives ordered by Isambard Kingdom Brunel for the Great Western Railway included two unusual Haigh Foundry locomotives. Snake and Viper were built at the Haigh Foundry and delivered in September 1838. They had 14.75 in × 18 in (375 mm × 457 mm) cylinders and the driving wheels geared 2:3 to keep the cylinder stroke speed low while allowing high track speed, in line with Brunel's specifications.

who runs it

Great Western RailwaySDSouth Devon Railway

base stats

• built 2made in total

Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.

fun facts

• 🎂First built 188 years ago, in 1838.
• ⌛Served for 31 years (1838–1869).

steam locomotive: Burns coal, wood or oil to boil water; the steam drives pistons that turn the wheels.

spec sheet

built

1838

in service from

1838

retired

1869

status

retired

number built

2

kind

Steam

traction

steam

origin

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

builders

Haigh Foundry

operators

Great Western Railway, South Devon Railway

top speed

—

power

—

gauge

2,140 mm Brunel broad gauge

wheel arrangement

2-2-2

From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.