Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns
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Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns Ltd (RSH) was a locomotive builder with works in North East England.
History[edit]
The company was formed in September 1937,[1] when Darlington based Robert Stephenson and Company took over the locomotive building department of Hawthorn Leslie and Company, which was based in Newcastle upon Tyne.[2] The goodwill of Leeds locomotive builders Kitson & Co. was obtained in 1938.
RSH locomotive numbering began at 6939, this being the first number following the sum total of locomotives built by Robert Stephenson & Co. and Hawthorn Leslie, (6938).
RSH became part of English Electric in 1955 and merged with GEC in 1968.[1]
Locomotive building at the Newcastle upon Tyne works ended in 1961 and at Darlington in 1964.
Diesel locomotives[edit]
RSH entered the diesel locomotive market in November 1937 with a "direct reversing" locomotive fitted with a Crossley two-stroke engine. There was no reversing gearbox and the diesel engine itself was reversible, as in marine practice. When starting, in either direction, power was supplied by compressed air until the engine fired.[3] One of these locomotives, Beryl (RSH 7697/1953), is preserved at the Tanfield Railway. After the 1955 modernisation plan of British Railways RSH responded by building the following class of diesel locomotives some of which are preserved (Including D306 & D318).
They also built the following for Australia.
Preservation[edit]
| Location | Country | Name | Works Number | Built | Arrangement | Gauge | Photo and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egyptian National Railways Museum, Cairo, Egypt | EG | ESR No. 986 | 1866 | 0-6-0 | .jpg)
On display | ||
| Kaya Railway, SL Plaza, Kaya County, Kyoto, Japan | JP | No. 2[4] | 2105 | 1873 | 2-4-0T | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) | |
| Glenbrook Vintage Railway, Ferrymead Heritage Park, Glenbrook, NZ | NZ | No. F.233[5] | 2593 | 1885 | 0-6-0ST | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) | |
| Ulster Folk and Transport Museum | NI | 2 Kathleen | 2613 | 1887 | 4-4-0T | 3 ft (914 mm) |  Static Display |
| New Jersey Museum of Transportation | USA | 3 Lady Edith | 2614 | 1887 | 4-4-0T | 3 ft (914 mm) |
Static Display |
| Ulster Folk and Transport Museum | NI | LP&HC no. 1 | 2738 | 1891 | 0-6-0ST | 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) |  Static Display |
| Railway Museum (Western Australia) | AUS | WAGR No. 201 | 2886 | 1898 | 4-4-4T | .jpg)
On display | |
| Valley Heights Rail Museum | AUS | Commonwealth Portland Cement Co No. 2 | 2994 | 1899 | 0-6-0ST | 
Operational, Nicknamed "Stevo" | |
| Bressingham Steam Museum | GB | LT&SR No. 80 Thundersley | 3366 | 1909 | 4-4-2T | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | 
On display, on loan from the National Railway museum. |
| Belen de Escobar, Argentina | AR | FCGM No. 907 | 3512 | 1912 | 2-8-2T | 
On display | |
| Mid-Hants Railway | GB | S&DJR No. 88 | 3894 | 1925 | 2-8-0 | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | _(2).jpg)
Out of Service |
| North Norfolk Railway | GB | S&DJR No. 89 | 3895 | 1925 | 2-8-0 | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | 
Operational |
| Museum of Science and Industry | USA | Rocket | 4072 | 1931 | 0-2-2 | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | _-_DSC06584.JPG)
Replica, on display |
| Darlington Railway Preservation Society | GB | No. 39 | 6947 | 1938 | 0-6-0T | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | On display |
| Beamish Museum | GB | Roker | 7006 | 1940 | 0-4-0CT | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |  On static display awaiting overhaul |
| Tanfield Railway | GB | Hendon | 7007 | 1940 | 0-4-0CT | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Awaiting restoration |
| East Anglian Railway Museum | GB | Pen Green (now Thomas) | 7031 | 1941 | 0-6-0ST (now with side tanks also) | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |  Operational, converted into a Thomas the Tank Engine replica in March 2008, boiler ticket expires in 2027 |
| Tanfield Railway | GB | Lysaghts | 7035 | 1940 | 0-6-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Awaiting restoration |
| Chatham Historic Dockyard | GB | Ajax | 7042 | 1941 | 0-4-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |  Operational, worked for the Ministry of Defence |
| Gwili Railway | GB | Olwen | 7058 | 1942 | 0-4-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |  Undergoing overhaul |
| Foxfield Light Railway | GB | Eustace Forth | 7063 | 1942 | 0-4-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |  Operational, boiler ticket expires in 2027 |
| Keighley and Worth Valley Railway | GB | Southwick | 7069 | 1942 | 0-4-0CT | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Stored awaiting overhaul |
| Bressingham Steam Museum | GB | Millfield | 7070 | 1942 | 0-4-0CT | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |  Static display. |
| Tanfield Railway | GB | 7078 | 1944 | Bo-Bo | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Built for 500v DC overhead system at Kearsley Power Station | |
| Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway | GB | Norman | 7086 | 1943 | 0-6-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Undergoing overhaul; built as Austerity WD 75050 |
| Strathspey Railway | GB | 7097 | 1943 | 0-6-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |  Awaiting overhaul; built as Austerity WD 75061 | |
| Tanfield Railway | GB | NCB No. 49 | 7098 | 1943 | 0-6-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |  Operational (Returned to traffic July 2018, Boiler tickets expires 2028); built as Austerity WD 75062 |
| Peak Rail | GB | Royal Pioneer | 7136 | 1944 | 0-6-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |  Undergoing overhaul, built as Austerity WD 75186 |
| Dean Forest Railway | GB | No. 152 Rennes | 7139 | 1944 | 0-6-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |  Operational, painted in Longmoor Military Railway livery |
| Avon Valley Railway | GB | 7151 | 1944 | 0-6-0T | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |  Stored awaiting overhaul. | |
| Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway | GB | 71515 Mechanical Navvy | 7169 | 1945 | 0-6-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | .jpg) Withdrawn Sept. 2018; built as Austerity WD 71515 |
| Gwili Railway | GB | Welsh Guardsman | 7170 | 1944 | 0-6-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Operational following a return to service in 2014; built as Austerity WD 71516 |
| Midland Railway - Butterley | GB | George | 7214 | 1945 | 0-4-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Undergoing restoration |
| Colne Valley Railway | GB | Doug Tottman | 7284 | 1945 | Bo-Bo | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | .jpg) Built for Kearsley Power Station, rebuilt as battery electric for Heysham Power Station |
| Tyseley Locomotive Works | GB | Fred | 7289 | 1945 | 0-6-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Undergoing overhaul; built as Austerity WD 71480 |
| National Coal Mining Museum | GB | Progress | 7298 | 1946 | 0-6-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Static display |
| Elsecar Railway | GB | Birkenhead | 7386 | 1948 | 0-4-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | .jpg) Undergoing overhaul |
| Tanfield Railway | GB | Sir Cecil A. Cochrane | 7409 | 1948 | 0-4-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |  Operational |
| Private site | GB | Norwood | 7412 | 1948 | 0-6-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Undergoing restoration off site |
| Museum of Science and Industry (Manchester) | GB | Agecroft No. 1 | 7416 | 1948 | 0-4-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | .jpg) Operational |
| Ribble Steam Railway | GB | Agecroft No. 2 | 7485 | 1947 | 0-4-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |  On static display awaiting overhaul |
| Mainline Steam Heritage Trust, Plimmerton, NZ | NZ | EW 1805 | 7491 | 1951 | Bo-Bo-Bo | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) |  New Zealand EW class electric |
| Canterbury Railway Society, Ferrymead Heritage Park, Christchuch, NZ | NZ | EW 1806 | 7492 | 1951 | Bo-Bo-Bo | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) |  |
| Snibston Discovery Park | GB | Mars No. 2 | 7493 | 1948 | 0-4-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Awaiting restoration |
| Battlefield Line Railway | GB | Richard III | 7537 | 1949 | 0-6-0T | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |  Stored out of use |
| Lincolnshire Wolds Railway | GB | Zebedee | 7597 | 1949 | 0-6-0T | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Undergoing overhaul |
| East Somerset Railway | GB | Meteor | 7609 | 1950 | 0-6-0T | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Undergoing restoration |
| Didcot Railway Centre | GB | Bonnie Prince Charlie | 7644 | 1951 | 0-4-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |  On static display awaiting overhaul. Used in title sequence of 1980s children's series The Saturday Banana. |
| Great Central Railway | GB | Nechells No. 4 | 7648 | 1951 | 0-6-0T | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | .jpg) Undergoing overhaul |
| Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway | GB | Beano | 7661 | 1959 | 0-4-0 | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Stored awaiting overhaul |
| Epping Ongar Railway[6] | GB | 56 | 7667 | 1950 | 0-6-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |  Stored awaiting overhaul |
| Spa Valley Railway | GB | Samson | 7668 | 1950 | 0-6-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Restoration on hold |
| Colne Valley Railway | GB | Jupiter | 7671 | 1951 | 0-6-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | .jpg) Built for the Corby Ironstone works. Undergoing overhaul |
| Spa Valley Railway | GB | Ugly | 7673 | 1950 | 0-6-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |  Operational |
| Fulstow Steam Centre | GB | Fulstow | 7680 | 1950 | 0-4-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Operational. Built for Leicester Power Station. |
| Whitwell and Reepham Railway | GB | Agecroft No. 3 | 7681 | 1951 | 0-4-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Undergoing overhaul |
| North Tyneside Steam Railway | GB | Meaford No.1 | 7683 | 1951 | 0-6-0T | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |  Static display awaiting restoration |
| Tanfield Railway | GB | Beryl | 7697 | 1953 | 0-6-0DM | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Awaiting repair |
| Garw Valley | GB | 7705 | 7705 | 1952 | 0-4-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Undergoing restoration |
| La Grange Railroad Museum, La Grange, Kentucky | USA | Meaford No.2 (Flying Duchess) | 7745 | 1952 | 0-6-0T | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | 
Static display. Operated on the Boyne City Railroad in Michigan after being bought and transferred to the United States. After bankruptcy of Boone City RR, it transferred to the Tennessee Railway Museum in Chattanooga, then finally to a scrapyard in Louisville, KY, when it was saved from being destroyed and melted as scrap. |
| Tanfield Railway | GB | NCB No. 44 | 7760 | 1953 | 0-6-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |  Awaiting restoration |
| Epping Ongar Railway[7] | GB | Corby | 7761 | 1954 | 0-6-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |  Stored awaiting overhaul |
| Tanfield Railway | GB | NCB No. 38 | 7763 | 1954 | 0-6-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |  Awaiting overhaul |
| Weardale Railway | GB | NCB No. 40 | 7765 | 1954 | 0-6-0T | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Undergoing overhaul |
| Tanfield Railway | GB | CEGB No. 21 | 7797 | 1954 | 0-4-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |  Awaiting overhaul |
| Tanfield Railway | GB | No. 47 | 7800 | 1954 | 0-6-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |  Awaiting restoration, ex Celynen South Power Station |
| Midland Railway - Butterley | GB | Castle Donington Power Station No. 1 | 7817 | 1954 | 0-4-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | .jpg) Undergoing overhaul |
| Yaxham | GB | Castle Donington Power Station No. 2 | 7818 | 1954 | 0-4-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Awaiting overhaul |
| Tanfield Railway | GB | NCB No. 16 | 7944 | 1957 | 0-6-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |  Awaiting restoration |
| Dales Countryside Museum | GB | 67345 | 7845 | 1955 | 0-6-0T | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |  On display, built for CEGB Hams Hall Power Station |
| Ferryhill Railway Heritage Trust | GB | North Downs | 7846 | 1955 | 0-6-0T | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | Under restoration - Boiler rebuilt |
| Gwili Railway | GB | Moorbarrow | 7849 | 1955 | 0-6-0ST | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |  Undergoing overhaul |
References[edit]
- ^ a b Longhorn, Danny (29 June 2023). "Alstom celebrates 200th Anniversary of the World's First Locomotive Works in Newcastle". RailBusinessDaily. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
The company merged with Hawthorn Leslie to form Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns Ltd in 1937, which went on to become English Electric and merged with GEC in 1968. In 1989 GEC merged with Alstom.
- ^ "R and W Hawthorn, Leslie and Co Ltd".
- ^ Industrial Railway Record no. 169, June 2002, pp 146-158, ISSN 0537-5347
- ^ "Steam Locomotive". japaneserailwaysociety.com. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ "Steam Locomotive". gvr.org.nz. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ "Two new steam locomotives join the Epping Ongar Railway fleet". www.eorailway.co.uk. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ "Two new steam locomotives join the Epping Ongar Railway fleet". www.eorailway.co.uk. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- Industrial Railway Society : Various publications.
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