GWR Metropolitan Class

The Great Western Railway Metropolitan Class 2-4-0T broad gauge steam locomotives with condensing apparatus for working trains on the Metropolitan Railway. This equipment was later removed, though the class continued to work suburban trains on GWR lines in London. This class was introduced into service between June 1862 and October 1864, and withdrawn between June 1871 and December 1877.

The locomotives were built by three different workshops, each with a different series of names. The first two batches were delivered concurrently by the Vulcan Foundry (named after insects), and Kitson & Co. (named after foreign monarchs). These were followed by a batch from the railway's own workshops at Swindon, which were named after flowers.

Locomotives

* "Azalia" (1864 - 1872):Built at Swindon, it ran as a 2-4-0 tender locomotive. This locomotives was named after the flower, the azalea.
* "Bee" (1862 - 1874):Built by the Vulcan Foundry. This locomotive was named after the insect, the bee.
* "Bey" (1862 - 1872):Built by Kitson & Co. A bey was a turkish chieftain.
* "Camelia" (1863 - 1876):Built at Swindon. This locomotives was named after the flower, the camelia.
* "Czar" (1862 - 1871):Built by Kitson & Co. The czar was the emperor of Russia.
* "Fleur-de-Lis" (1863 - 1872):Built at Swindon. This locomotives was named after a symbolic flower, the fleur-de-lis.
* "Gnat" (1862 - 1874):Built by the Vulcan Foundry. This locomotive was named after the insect, the gnat.
* "Hornet" (1862 - 1873):Built by the Vulcan Foundry, it was later altered to a 2-4-0 tender locomotive. This locomotive was named after the insect, the hornet.
* "Kaiser" (1862 - 1872):Built by Kitson & Co. A kaiser was the emperor of Prussia.
* "Khan" (1862 - 1872):Built by Kitson & Co. A khan was an Aisian leader.
* "Laurel" (1864 - 1872):Built at Swindon, it ran as a 2-4-0 tender locomotive. This locomotives was named after the tree, the laurel.
* "Lily" (1864 - 1872):Built at Swindon, it ran as a 2-4-0 tender locomotive. After withdrawal the boiler was sold to the Telegraph Construction Company who used it as a stationary boiler on board the SS Great Eastern. This locomotives was named after the lily family of flowers.
* "Locust" (1862 - 1876):Built by the Vulcan Foundry. This locomotive was named after the insect, the locust.
* "Mogul" (1862 - 1872):Built by Kitson & Co, it was later altered to a 2-4-0 tender locomotive. A mogul was the leader of the Mughals.
* "Mosquito" (1862 - 1877):Built by the Vulcan Foundry. This locomotive was named after the insect, the mosquito.
* "Myrtle" (1864 - 1873):Built at Swindon, it ran as a 2-4-0 tender locomotive. This locomotives was named after the myrtle genus of flowering plants.
* "Rose" (1863 - 1877):Built at Swindon. This locomotives was named after the flowering shrub, the rose, the symbol of England.
* "Shah" (1862 - 1872):Built by Kitson & Co. The shah was the ruler of Persia.
* "Shamrock" (1863 - 1877):Built at Swindon. This locomotives was named after the flowering plant, the shamrock, the symbol of Ireland.
* "Thistle" (1863 - 1874):Built at Swindon. This locomotives was named after the thistle family of flowering plants, the symbol of Scotland.
* "Violet" (1864 - 1872):Built at Swindon. This locomotives was named after the flower, the violet.
* "Wasp" (1862 - 1875):Built by the Vulcan Foundry. This locomotive was named after the insect, the wasp.