Editing GWR Star Class (section)

==''North Star'' and ''Morning Star''==
These two were built in 1836 by [[Robert Stephenson and Company|Robert Stephenson & Co.]] for the [[New Orleans Railway]], which had a gauge of {{Track gauge|66in|lk=on}}. That railway experienced financial difficulties, and was unable to accept them; Stephensons sold the locomotives to the GWR, altering the gauge to {{track gauge|7ft0.25in|lk=on}} before delivery, and in the case of ''North Star'', also fitting {{convert|7|ft|0|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} driving wheels in place of the original {{convert|6|ft|6|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} wheels.{{sfn|MacDermot|1927|p=714}}{{sfn|Reed|1953|pp=B4, B11–13}}
{{Infobox locomotive
|name=North Star
|image=North Star nameplate.jpg
|powertype=Steam
|whytetype=2-2-2
|driverdiameter={{convert|7|ft|0|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
|leadingdiameter={{convert|4|ft|0|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
|trailingdiameter={{convert|4|ft|0|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
|wheelbase={{convert|12|ft|4|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
|cylindersize={{convert|16|x|16|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}, <br> [[Bore (engine)|dia]] x [[Stroke (engine)|stroke]]
|operator=[[Great Western Railway]]
|operatorclass=Star
|gauge={{track gauge|7ft0.25in|lk=on}}
|designer=[[Robert Stephenson]]
|builder=[[Robert Stephenson and Company|R Stephenson & Co.]]
}}
* '''''North Star''''' (1837–1871)
:''North Star'' arrived at [[Maidenhead and Taplow railway station|Maidenhead Bridge station]] 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 {{convert|16|x|18|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} cylinders and the [[wheelbase]] lengthened by {{convert|1|ft|mm|0}}. It was withdrawn in 1871 but kept at [[Swindon Works]] along with ''[[GWR Iron Duke class#Iron Duke class|Lord of the Isles]]'' until 1906, when both were dismantled. However, many parts were later recovered to build a replica.

:'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. The commercial park north of Swindon Station is called North Star after the engine and includes streets named North Star Avenue and Polaris Way.

* '''''Morning Star''''' (1839–1869)
:This, the second Star Class, was not delivered until 14 months after the ''North Star''. It had smaller {{convert|6|ft|6|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} wheels, as had been intended when it was constructed for the New Orleans Railway; the wheelbase was {{convert|12|ft|6|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}.

: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.
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