I have just been reading about the demise of the broad gauge on the Great Western Railway - O.K. I just happen to like industrial archaeology - and a locomotive name caught my eye. In May 1892, after all the broad gauge stock had been moved up to Swindon, 4200 workmen worked over a weekend to convert 177 miles of the line from Paddington to Penzance to standard gauge. In just two days the whole length was ready to take the new engines and rolling stock which were standing by. I'll guarantee that would take months these days, even with all the specialist machinery now available.
196 locos, and around 3600 other wagons were stored on 15 miles of sidings that had been prepared for them. Bit by bit they were all cut up, but two old broad gauge locos survived to shunt them about. One was called Stag, and was the very last to be broken up, in June 1893. None survive today.
Brunel's locomotive designer, Daniel Gooch, was always admired for the "Free steaming" of his engines. The tradition continues it seems, if only in a name, but a famous one none the less!
Mike.
196 locos, and around 3600 other wagons were stored on 15 miles of sidings that had been prepared for them. Bit by bit they were all cut up, but two old broad gauge locos survived to shunt them about. One was called Stag, and was the very last to be broken up, in June 1893. None survive today.
Brunel's locomotive designer, Daniel Gooch, was always admired for the "Free steaming" of his engines. The tradition continues it seems, if only in a name, but a famous one none the less!
Mike.
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