GWR Haigh Foundry locomotives
| GWR Snake and Viper South Devon Railway Exe and Teign |
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| Type and origin | |
|---|---|
| Power type | Steam |
| Builder | Haigh Foundry |
| Serial number | 25–26 |
| Build date | 1838 |
| Total produced | 2 |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Configuration: |
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| • Whyte |
2-2-2 2-2-2T (after rebuild) |
| Gauge | 7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm) |
| Leading dia. | 3 ft 5 in (1,041 mm) |
| Driver dia. | 6 ft 4 in (1,930 mm) 6 ft 0 in (1,829 mm) (after rebuild) |
| Trailing dia. | 3 ft 5 in (1,041 mm) |
| Wheelbase | 13 ft 0 in (3.96 m) |
| Cylinder size | 14.75 in × 18 in (375 mm × 457 mm) 13 in × 18 in (330 mm × 457 mm) (first rebuild) 15 in × 18 in (381 mm × 457 mm) (second rebuild) |
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Operators |
Great Western Railway South Devon Railway |
| Number in class | 2 |
| Withdrawn | 1868-1869 |
| Disposition | Unknown, probably scrapped |
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 in 1838 with 14.75-by-18-inch (375 mm × 457 mm) cylinders and the driving wheels geared 2:3 in order to keep the cylinder stroke speed low while allowing high track speed, in line with Brunel's specifications. Within a couple of years they had been rebuilt with 13 in × 18 in (330 mm × 457 mm) and conventional drive. They were later converted to 2-2-2T tank locomotives, possibly when they were sent to work the South Devon Railway, and at some time fitted with 6 ft 0 in (1,829 mm) driving wheels and 15 in × 18 in (381 mm × 457 mm) cylinders.
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Wikipedia