London and Greenwich Railway - Rolling Stock

Rolling Stock

The first locomotives were a 2-2-0 built by Charles Tayleur and Company and three more by William Marshall of Gravesend of which one was 2-2-2. All would appear to be of the Stephenson "Planet" type. These were supplemented by two from Bury but subcontracted to George Forrester and Company These were groundbreaking in that for the first time horizontal cylinders were mounted at the front of the locomotive outside the frame. While extremely successful for their time, they swayed so much they were referred to as "Boxers" and a trailing axle was added. In the next four years three more locos followed, one each by R and W Hawthorn and Robert Stephenson and Company, with three axles, and one by Day, Summers and Company. This latter one was also modified with a trailing axle soon after delivery.

First and second class coaches were provided and were unusual in that the sole bars and headstocks were below the axles. The railway line, being for much of its length built on a viaduct, this was a safety measure, since, in the event of a derailment, the coaches would drop only a few inches onto the rails.