Twenty locomotives were ordered from Slaughter, Grüning and Company and given the names of famous engineers. The remaining six were built by the railway itself at Swindon and given names previously carried by the Firefly Class locomotives that they replaced.
Withdrawals started in March 1876 but the following year ten were rebuilt as 2-4-0T locomotives; the last survived until the end of the broad gauge on 21 May 1892.
This locomotive was built by the Great Western Railway at Swindon. The name Acheron comes from a Greek river and had previously been carried by a Fire Fly Class locomotive.
Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company, this locomotive was named after John Blenkinsop, a mining engineer and pioneer of railway locomotives.
Bury (1865 - 1877)
Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company. This locomotive was named after Edward Bury of Bury, Curtis, and Kennedy.
Cerberus (1866 - 1877)
This locomotive was built at Swindon. Cerebus was a character in Greek mythology and the name had previously been carried by a Fire Fly Class locomotive.
Dewrance (1865 - 1892)
Built by the Slaughter, Grüning and Company, it was named after John Dewrance, an early railway engineer.
Fenton (1865 - 1892)
Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company. This locomotive was named after James Fenton of Fenton, Murray and Jackson.
Foster (1865 - 1876)
Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company, it was probably named after James Foster of Foster, Rastrick and Company.
Gooch (1865 - 1892)
Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company, this locomotive was named after Daniel Gooch, the first locomotive engineer of the Great Western Railway.
Hackworth (1865 - 1892)
Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company, This locomotive was named after Timothy Hackworth, a famous engineer.
Hawk (1865 - 1892)
This locomotive was built at Swindon. A hawk is a kind of bird of prey; the name was later carried by a Fire Fly Class locomotive.
This locomotive was built at Swindon. Phlegethon was one of the five rivers of the Greek underworld and the name had previously been carried by a Fire Fly Class locomotive.
Pollux (1866 - 1877)
This locomotive was built at Swindon. Pollux was the twin of Castor in Greek mythology; the name had previously been carried on a Fire Fly Class locomotive.
Roberts (1865 - 1877)
Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company. It was named after Richard Roberts of Sharp, Roberts and Company
Sharp (1866 - 1887)
This locomotive was built by the Avonside Engine Company, it was named after Thomas Sharp of Sharp, Stewart and Company.
Slaughter (1865 - 1892)
Built by Slaughter, Grüning and Company, this locomotive was initially named after Edward Slaughter one of its partners, but was soon renamed Avonside when the business changed its name to become the Avonside Engine Company.
Stewart (1866 - 1877)
This locomotive was built by the Avonside Engine Company, and named after Charles Stewart of Sharp, Stewart and Company.
Wood (1866 - 1892)
This locomotive was built by the Avonside Engine Company. It was probably named after Frederick Wood, a railway engineer.
After withdrawal, Hedley was used as a stationary boiler at Conwil Quarry from 1893, then was moved to Neath in 1905. It ceased work in 1914 but was not cut up - at Swindon - until 1929.
Reed, P. J. T. (February 1953). White, D. E. (ed.). The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, Part 2: Broad Gauge. Kenilworth: RCTS. pp. B27–B28. ISBN0-901115-32-0.
