The Great Western Railway was created on 31st August 1835, to provide a double tracked line from London to Bristol for a public service and freight movement. The man who was going to be employed by the GWR to oversee the construction of the line, was a man who was going to write his name into the history books, the man was Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
The line was constructed in broad gauge,7 feet 0¼ inch (214 cm), instead of the standard gauge, 4 feet 8½ inches (143.5 cm), which is still being used now. Brunel thought his gauge was the best for high speed and higher passenger comfort, but it wasn't to last. On the 23rd May 1892, the last section of broad gauge track was lifted and the whole UK rail network was in standard gauge.
By 1900, Brunel had suddenly died from a heart attack, Daniel Gooch, another intelligent loco designer, had resigned. Then William Dean became Locomotive Superintendent.
Other engine designers who joined the GWR were Charles Collett, Frederick Hawksworth and George Jackson Churchward, all of these designers, up until the nationalation of the railways in 1948, designed a huge range of locos, such classes as the Castles, Kings, Halls, Counties and Manors, more classes will be explained in the Class section.
Below are a couple of pictures of some classic GWR locomotives. Click the image to see it full size.