GWR Mather, Dixon locomotives

Premier
Type and origin
Power type Steam
Builder Mather, Dixon & Co.
Serial number 40–41, 50–53
Specifications
Configuration 2-2-2
Gauge 7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm)
Leading dia. 4 ft 6 in (1,372 mm)
Driver dia. 7 ft 0 in (2,134 mm)
Trailing dia. 4 ft 6 in (1,372 mm)
Wheelbase 13 ft 0 in (3.96 m)
Cylinder size 14.5 in × 14.5 in (368 mm × 368 mm)

The first 19 locomotives ordered by Isambard Kingdom Brunel for the Great Western Railway included six 2-2-2 Mather, Dixon locomotives. They were built by Mather, Dixon and Company, but were unsuccessful, and were rapidly replaced by the Star Class locomotives ordered by Daniel Gooch, once he had been appointed as the Locomotive Engineer.

Locomotives

This locomotive, along with Charles Tayleur's Vulcan was delivered by canal to West Drayton on 25 November 1837. It had 14.5-by-14.5-inch (368 mm × 368 mm) cylinders. The name, which means "first", was later used on the first locomotive built at Swindon, the first of the Premier Class goods locomotives.
This locomotive was the second of the Mather, Dixon locomotives to arrive and featured 14-by-14-inch (356 mm × 356 mm) cylinders. Ariel is, amongst other things, an angel and a fairy in William Shakespeare's The Tempest.
This rather distinctive locomotive had plate 10 ft (3,048 mm) wheels instead of the more usual spoked ones, the carrying wheels being 5 ft (1,524 mm). The 14-by-20-inch (356 mm × 508 mm) cylinders were fed from a doubled-domed boiler.
This locomotive was delivered in December 1838 before being put to work in August 1839. After withdrawal it was used as a stationary boiler at Reading.
This locomotive was built to similar dimensions to Planet and also arrived in December 1838 but not accepted into service until 26 September 1839. It had 8ft driving wheels and 16-by-20-inch (406 mm × 508 mm) cylinders. The name was later carried by one of the Ariadne Class standard goods locomotives.
This locomotive was built with 10ft wheels, but did not enter service until they had been changed to 8ft ones. The cylinders were 16 by 20 inches (406 mm × 508 mm). It was not successful, being delivered in April 1840 and withdrawn in December. The name was later carried by one of the Ariadne Class standard goods locomotives.

References

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