GWR Star Class - North Star and Morning Star

North Star and Morning Star

• North Star (1837–1871)

North Star arrived at Maidenhead Bridge by barge on 28 November 1837; on 31 May 1838 it worked the inaugural train for the company's directors. In 1854 it was rebuilt with 16in × 18in cylinders and the wheelbase lengthened by a foot. It was withdrawn in 1871 but kept at Swindon, along with Lord of the Isles, until 1906.

'The north star' is one of two common alternative names for Polaris (its other being 'the pole star'). It is the only visible polar star in either hemisphere, and has long been used for navigation due to its constant fixed and unmoving appearance due north in the night sky.

• Morning Star (1839–1869)

This, the second Star Class, was not delivered until 14 months after the North Star. It had smaller 6ft 6in wheels, as had been intended when it was constructed for the New Orleans Railway; the wheelbase was 12ft 6in.

Named after 'the morning star', the common periodic name for the planet Venus (at times the brightest object in the night sky) when seen in the eastern sky just before sunrise, its motion then appearing to "lead" the sun for many mornings.