Baguley Cars Ltd

Baguley Cars Ltd (later Baguley (Engineers) Ltd, then E. E. Baguley Ltd) was a British engineering company, specializing in railway locomotives. They were founded in 1911 by Ernest E. Baguley and were acquired by Baguley-Drewry in 1962.

Share of the Baguley Cars Ltd, issued 29. January 1913

Baguley Cars Ltd.
A 1914 Baguley Cars 4-cylinder car
Baguley Cars Locomotive Rishra now resident at the Leighton Buzzard Light Railway.
Baguley works number 774, the first of their 20hp petrol locomotives, now preserved at the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum

In 1911, engineer Ernest E. Baguley set up Baguley Cars Ltd, taking over the assets of the (then defunct) Ryknield Motor Company at Shobnall Road Works, Burton-on-Trent. The company produced a range of motor vehicles. In 1912, Baguely entered into an agreement with the Drewry Car Co. to manufacture railcars for Drewry from 1912. In 1915 Baguley Cars Ltd acquired the firm of McEwan, Pratt & Co Ltd (which was in liquidation)[1] and thereby acquired some important orders for 10hp petrol/paraffin locomotives for the War Department Light Railways.

The company did not follow the 'normal' practice of building steam first and then diesel or petrol, but started in the opposite fashion, not building their first steam rail engine until 1919.[2] But even this was almost an 'accident', as the locomotive was intended to be a petrol hydraulic machine but the transmission components were held up because of the 1914 - 18 war, so it was converted to a steam engine. Altogether the company built some 31 steam locos.

Baguley (Engineers) Ltd

After the War there was a decline in the production of road vehicles (probably due to competition from other manufacturers) and an increase in the production of railway equipment. Because of this, the name of the company was changed from Baguley Cars Ltd to Baguley (Engineers) Ltd on 10 April 1923. Despite the formal name change, the company continued to use the Baguley Cars Ltd. name for several more years.[3] W.E.C. Souster took over as managing director of the company, having worked his way up from office boy.[4]

During the 1920s there was some friction because Drewry complained that Baguley was failing to produce more modern designs of engine and chassis. Drewry began to move their business to the English Electric Company. Baguley (Engineers) Ltd went into decline and entered liquidation in 1931. Most of the plant and effects were sold at auction on 10 November 1931.

E. E. Baguley Ltd

W.E.C Souster and his brother Frederick C. Souster, revived the company shortly after its liquidation with W.E.C serving as chairman and the brothers as co-managing directors.[4][5] The new company was called E. E. Baguley Ltd. and was located at Clarence Street, Burton-on-Trent; it was registered on 30 April 1932. Initially the company was a repair business for Baguley products, but it soon expanded into locomotive production. In 1934 E. E. Baguley Ltd. moved to larger premises at Uxbridge Street, Burton-on-Trent. This company survived until January 1964,[4] when it was acquired by Drewry Cars Ltd. to form Baguley-Drewry Ltd.

Preserved locomotives
"Altonia" at the Old Kiln Light Railway

The following Baguley locomotives are known to have been preserved, but there are many more:

References
  1. Quine, Dan (March 2017). "Baguley 774 and the Pennal Tramway". Industrial Railway Record.
  2. "Exceptionally cheap to save removal". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 16 January 1929. 0-4-0 Saddle Tank Loco., Baguley Cars, new 1919, rebuilt 1925
  3. "Association of Engineering and Shipbuilding Draughtsmen". Derby Daily Telegraph. 29 November 1926.
  4. "Mr. W.E.C.Souster". Birmingham Daily Post. 27 April 1964.
  5. "Rugby men will pat last tribute". Birmingham Daily Post. 11 August 1967.
  6. "Baguley locmotives". Steam Locomotive Database.
  7. "7 Chattenden". Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway. Retrieved 1 November 2020.

Sources
  • "The Drewry Car Company:1906-1970". Industrial Railway Record. Industrial Railway Society (40). 1972.
  • Marsden, Colin J. (2003). The Diesel Shunter. Oxford Publishing. ISBN 0-86093-579-5.
  • Civil, A; Etherington, R (2008). The Railway Products of Baguley-Drewry Ltd and Its Predecessors,. The Industrial Railway Society. ISBN 978-1-901556-44-5.
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