GWR Firefly Class

what is it?

The Firefly was a class of broad gauge 2-2-2 steam locomotives used for passenger services on the Great Western Railway. The class was introduced into service between March 1840 and December 1842, and withdrawn between December 1863 and July 1879. Following the success of the Star class locomotives introduced to the Great Western Railway by Daniel Gooch, Gooch set to work to develop a new class based on North Star, but with larger boilers.

who runs it

Great Western Railway

base stats

• built 62made 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 186 years ago, in 1840.
• ⌛Served for 39 years (1840–1879).

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

spec sheet

built

1840–1842

in service from

1840

retired

1879

status

retired

number built

62

kind

Steam

traction

steam

origin

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

builders

Jones, Turner and Evans, Sharp, Stewart and Company, Fenton, Murray and Jackson, J. and G. Rennie, R. B. Longridge and Company, Avonside Engine Company, Nasmyth, Wilson and Company, Stothert, Slaughter and Company

designer

Daniel Gooch

operators

Great Western 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.