GWR Caesar Class

Great Western Railway Caesar Class
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Daniel Gooch Builder Great Western Railway
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-6-0ST Gauge 7 ft 0¼ in Driver dia. 4 ft 9 in Wheelbase 15 ft 5 in Cylinder size 17 in dia × 24 in stroke

The Great Western Railway Caesar Class 0-6-0 broad gauge steam locomotives. They were designed by Daniel Gooch for goods train work. This class was introduced into service between June 1851 and February 1852, and withdrawn between June 1871 and June 1880.

From about 1865, the Caesar Class was expanded to include locomotives formerly known as Ariadne Class, Caliph Class, or GWR Pyracmon Class.

The names of the locomotives were generally taken from classical sources.

Locomotives

• Caesar (1851 - 1880)

Caesar was the title used to denote a Roman emperor.

• Dido (1851 - 1872)

This locomotive was named after Dido, the first queen of Carthage.

• Druid

A druid was a priest in Celtic Britain.

• Florence (1851 - 1874)

The name Florence was probably picked to represent the Florence, an Italian city.

• Hero (1851 - 1871)

The name Hero continued the classical theme, see Hero.

• Nora Creina (1851 - 1872)

Thomas Moore's muse in his poem Lesbia has a beaming eye.

• Thunderer (1851 - 1874)

This was the second time that the Great Western railway had chosen to name a locomotive Thunderer, the first locomotive being one of Brunel's Freaks. See Thunder for the derivation of the name, which was probably chosen to conveyed a feeling of power.

• Volcano (1851 - 1874)

This locomotive was given a name that expressed great power, volcano being an erupting mountain.

References

• Reed, P. J. T. (February 1953). White, D. E. (ed.). The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, Part 2: Broad Gauge. Kenilworth: RCTS. p. B24. ISBN 0-901115-32-0. OCLC 650490992. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
• Waters, Laurence (1999). The Great Western Broad Gauge. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-2634-3.