Kitson and Company: Difference between revisions
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The company built about 5,400 locomotives over a period of 101 years, with orders for British railways including the [[Midland Railway]], the [[Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway]] and the [[South Eastern Railway (UK)|South Eastern Railway]], and worldwide. From 1855 many [[History of rail transport in India|Indian railways]] became major customers.<ref>http://www.steamindex.com/manlocos/kitsons.htm</ref> |
The company built about 5,400 locomotives over a period of 101 years, with orders for British railways including the [[Midland Railway]], the [[Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway]] and the [[South Eastern Railway (UK)|South Eastern Railway]], and worldwide. From 1855 many [[History of rail transport in India|Indian railways]] became major customers.<ref>http://www.steamindex.com/manlocos/kitsons.htm</ref> |
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From 1866 Kitson's produced a large proportion of the [[Midland Railway]] double-framed goods engines designed by [[Matthew Kirtley]] and from 1869 began building a series of engines for [[Russia]]. In 1886 Kitson's assisted its representative Mr E.Jeffreys in the preparation of five designs for the [[Victorian Railways]] (Australia), each with standardised components interchangeable between the classes. Manufacture of these locomotives was by Colonial builders, except for two examples built at Kitson's Airedale Foundry, Leeds and exhibited at the Centennial International Exhibition held in the [[Royal Exhibition Building]] in Melbourne, for which they received the First Order of Merit in the English Court. These were a large [[0-6-0]] and a suburban [[2-4-2T]].<ref> Norman Cave, John Buckland, David Beardsell.(2002)''Steam Locomotives of the Victorian Railways: Vol.1: The First Fifty Years'' Australian Railways Historical Society, Melbourne, Vic ISBN 187667384 p128</ref> The Kitson's designs influenced the Victorian Railways for many years. Kitson built a large order of [4-6-0]]s for the Cordoba Railway in Argentina during 1889-91, which were among the earliest British examples of this type.<ref>http://www.steamindex.com/manlocos/kitsons.htm</ref> |
From 1866 Kitson's produced a large proportion of the [[Midland Railway]] double-framed goods engines designed by [[Matthew Kirtley]] and from 1869 began building a series of engines for [[Russia]]. In 1886 Kitson's assisted its representative Mr E.Jeffreys in the preparation of five designs for the [[Victorian Railways]] (Australia), each with standardised components interchangeable between the classes. Manufacture of these locomotives was by Colonial builders, except for two examples built at Kitson's Airedale Foundry, Leeds and exhibited at the Centennial International Exhibition held in the [[Royal Exhibition Building]] in Melbourne, for which they received the First Order of Merit in the English Court. These were a large [[0-6-0]] and a suburban [[2-4-2T]].<ref> Norman Cave, John Buckland, David Beardsell.(2002)''Steam Locomotives of the Victorian Railways: Vol.1: The First Fifty Years'' Australian Railways Historical Society, Melbourne, Vic ISBN 187667384 p128</ref> The Kitson's designs influenced the Victorian Railways for many years. Kitson built a large order of [[4-6-0]]s for the Cordoba Railway in Argentina during 1889-91, which were among the earliest British examples of this type.<ref>http://www.steamindex.com/manlocos/kitsons.htm</ref> |
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From 1876 to 1901 they also built over 300 steam [[tram engine]]s and steam [[railmotor]] units. These were developed from W.R.Rowan's design.<ref>[[Australian Railway History|Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin]], February, 1962 pp26-29 </ref> <ref>http://www.steamindex.com/manlocos/kitsons.htm</ref> |
From 1876 to 1901 they also built over 300 steam [[tram engine]]s and steam [[railmotor]] units. These were developed from W.R.Rowan's design.<ref>[[Australian Railway History|Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin]], February, 1962 pp26-29 </ref> <ref>http://www.steamindex.com/manlocos/kitsons.htm</ref> |
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Revision as of 12:43, 6 November 2008
Kitson and Company was a locomotive manufacturer based in Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.
Early History
The company started as James Kitson at the Airedale Foundry, off Pearson Street, Hunslet in 1835 with Charles Todd as a partner. Todd had been apprenticed to Matthew Murray at the Round Foundry in Holbeck, Leeds.
Initially it made parts for other builders, until it was joined in 1838 by David Laird, a wealthy farmer who was looking for investments, the company becoming Todd, Kitson and Laird. This year saw the production of the company's first complete engines, either for the North Midland or the Liverpool and Manchester Railway
However, Todd left almost immediately to form Shepherd and Todd and the company was known variously as Kitson and Laird or Laird and Kitson.
The order for six engines by the Liverpool and Manchester began with 0-4-2 Lion,, which still exists. Around 1860, it was withdrawn from service and sold to the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, where it was jacked-up off its wheels and used for pumping water. In 1930 it was restored and remains in preservation at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester.
In 1842, Laird, not receiving the financial return he expected, left the partnership. Kitson was then joined by Isaac Thompson and William Hewitson, the company becoming Kitson Thompson and Hewitson. In 1858 Thompson left and it became Kitson and Hewitson, then finally Kitson and Company in 1863 when Hewitson died.
The company built about 5,400 locomotives over a period of 101 years, with orders for British railways including the Midland Railway, the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway and the South Eastern Railway, and worldwide. From 1855 many Indian railways became major customers.[1]
From 1866 Kitson's produced a large proportion of the Midland Railway double-framed goods engines designed by Matthew Kirtley and from 1869 began building a series of engines for Russia. In 1886 Kitson's assisted its representative Mr E.Jeffreys in the preparation of five designs for the Victorian Railways (Australia), each with standardised components interchangeable between the classes. Manufacture of these locomotives was by Colonial builders, except for two examples built at Kitson's Airedale Foundry, Leeds and exhibited at the Centennial International Exhibition held in the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne, for which they received the First Order of Merit in the English Court. These were a large 0-6-0 and a suburban 2-4-2T.[2] The Kitson's designs influenced the Victorian Railways for many years. Kitson built a large order of 4-6-0s for the Cordoba Railway in Argentina during 1889-91, which were among the earliest British examples of this type.[3]
From 1876 to 1901 they also built over 300 steam tram engines and steam railmotor units. These were developed from W.R.Rowan's design.[4] [5]
Kitson-Meyer
An innovation was the articulated locomotive design proposed by Robert Stirling based on the Meyer locomotive, later known as the Kitson-Meyer. The first three were built in 1894 for the Anglo-Chilian Nitrate & Railway Company in Chile, with two in 1903 for Rhodesia and three in 1904 for Jamaica. Over 50 were built, some 2-8-8-0 and 2-8-8-2, the last being in 1935. There were also some 0-8-6-0s designed for rack railway working in the Andes, two examples of which survive in Chile, and one in Argentina.[6] [7]
Later History and Closure
After a busy period during World War I, trade dropped off in the 1920s. During this period the experimental Kitson-Still 2-6-2T steam diesel hybrid locomotive, combining steam power with internal combustion, was tested on the London and North Eastern Railway between York and Hull. This hauled revenue-earning trains for the LNER but Kitson's could not afford to develop it into a commercially viable form. The high research and development costs contributed to the demise of Kitson's.
The last large order in 1924 was for 12 London and North Eastern Railway Improved Director class locomotives. In 1934 the receivers were called in, and the company struggled on until 1938. The patterns, drawings and goodwill were acquired by Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns.
Bibliography
- Lowe, J.W., (1989) British Steam Locomotive Builders, Guild Publishing
- Binns, Donald (2003) Kitson Meyer Articulated Locomotives Trackside Publications, Skipton, UK.
References
- ^ http://www.steamindex.com/manlocos/kitsons.htm
- ^ Norman Cave, John Buckland, David Beardsell.(2002)Steam Locomotives of the Victorian Railways: Vol.1: The First Fifty Years Australian Railways Historical Society, Melbourne, Vic ISBN 187667384 p128
- ^ http://www.steamindex.com/manlocos/kitsons.htm
- ^ Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, February, 1962 pp26-29
- ^ http://www.steamindex.com/manlocos/kitsons.htm
- ^ http://www.lcgb.org.uk/html/santiagomuseum.htm
- ^ http://www.kitson-meyer.com/karamoja.html