South Devon Railway Leopard class

Infobox Locomotive
name="Leopard"
powertype=Steam
whytetype=4-4-0ST
driversize=5 ft 9 in
leadingsize=3 ft 6 in
wheelbase=18 ft 5 in
cylindersize=17 in dia × 24 in stroke
railroad=South Devon Railway
railroadclass=Leopard
gauge=7 ft 0¼ in
builder=Avonside Engine Co.

The Leopard class were four 4-4-0 saddle tank broad gauge designed for passenger trains but were also used on goods trains when required. They were built by the Avonside Engine Company for the South Devon Railway, but also operated on its associated railways. Although designed for easy conversion to standard gauge this was never carried out.

On 1 February 1876 the South Devon Railway was amalgamated with the Great Western Railway, the locomotives were given numbers by their new owners but continued to carry their names too.

Locomotives

* "Lance" (1875 - 1892) GWR no. 2130:It was one of two locomotives kept working at Swindon railway works for shunting the broad gauge stock into the workshops for conversion or dismantling, until it too was dismantled in June 1893.

:This was the second South Devon Railway locomotive to carry this name, it was previously carried by a Comet class locomotive. The name is that of a thrown weapon, a lance.

* "Leopard" (1872 - 1893) GWR no. 2128:It was one of two locomotives kept working at Swindon railway works for shunting the broad gauge stock into the workshops for conversion or dismantling, until it too was dismantled in June 1893.

:This locomotive is named after the leopard, a fast animal.

* "Osiris" (1875 - 1892) GWR no. 2131:This was the second South Devon Railway locomotive to carry this name, it was previously carried by a Comet class locomotive. The name is that of an Egyptian god, Osiris.

* "Stag" (1872 - 1893) GWR no. 2129:This locomotive is believed to have worked the last train on the St Ives branch on 20 May 1892 before this and all other lines were converted to standard gauge. It then took the empty coaches from there to Swindon railway works where it was kept for shunting the broad gauge stock into the workshops for conversion or dismantling, until it too was dismantled in June 1893.

:A stag is a fast animal.

References

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* Railway company records at The National Archives