Alexander Allan (locomotive engineer)

Alexander Allan (locomotive engineer)
Born	1809 Montrose, Angus
Died	2 June 1891
Nationality	Scottish
Engineering career
Engineering discipline	Mechanical engineering

Allan valve gear, seen here fitted to an early Austrian locomotive

Alexander Allan was a Scottish mechanical engineer. He was born at Montrose, Angus, in 1809 and died on 2 June 1891.

Career

From 1843 to 1853 he was Works Manager at the Crewe Works of the Grand Junction Railway, later London and North Western Railway, under Francis Trevithick. Here he was responsible for designing the Crewe type (locomotive) with inclined cycliners and double frames. From 1853 to 1865 he was Locomotive Superintendent of the Scottish Central Railway. Allan was an original member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1847.

Inventions

Allan made a number of inventions, including a balanced slide valve, but the best-known is his straight-link valve gear of 1855.

See also

• Locomotives of the London and North Western Railway

Sources

• London and North Western Railway Society

Preceded by Position created

Chief Mechanical Engineer of Highland Railway 1854-1865

Succeeded by William Stroudley