GWR Premier Class

The Great Western Railway Premier Class 0-6-0 broad gauge steam locomotives for goods train work. This class was introduced into service between February 1846 and May 1847, and withdrawn between March 1866 and June 1872.

These were the first locomotives built at Swindon railway works, albeit with boilers supplied to the company. They were larger than the existing Hercules Class but still with hatcock fireboxes. Just six months after the last one left Swindon, production of the even larger Pyracmon Class had started.

From about 1865, the Premier Class locomotives became part of the Fury Class, along with the Hercules Class locomotives.

Locomotives

* "Ajax" (1846 - 1871):This locomotive was named after the Greek mythological hero, Ajax. The name had previously been carried on one of the unsuccessful Mather, Dixon locomotives built in 1838.
* "Argo" (1846 - 1855):The original "Argo" was Jason's ship in Greek mythology.
* "Bellerophon" (1846 - 1870):This locomotive was named after a Greek mythological hero, Bellerophon.
* "Bergion" (1847 - 1870):This locomotive was named after Bergion, son of Poseidon in Greek mythology.
* "Briarcus" (1847 - 1870):This locomotive was named after Briarcus, a minor character in Greek mythology.
* "Brontes" (1847 - 1872): Brontes is one of the Greek mythical monsters known as the Cyclops.
* "Dreadnought" (1846 - 1871): This is a common name for large British naval ships, the HMS Dreadnought serving when this locomotive was built was launched in 1801.
* "Fury" (1846 - 1871):The furies were the female personification of vengeance in Roman mythology.
* "Jason" (1847 - 1870): This locomotive was named after Jason. a hero of Greek mythology.
* "Premier" (1846 - 1869): The name, which means "first", had previously been carried on one of the Mather, Dixon locomotives of 1838.
* "Telica" (1846 - 1870)::The volcano Telica is in Niaragua.
* "Vesuvius" (1846 - 1870):This locomotive was named after Vesuvius, a famous volcano in Italy.