Beyer, Peacock and Company

Beyer, Peacock and Company was an English railway locomotive manufacturer with a factory in Openshaw, Manchester. Founded by Charles Beyer, Richard Peacock and Henry Robertson, it traded from 1854 until 1966. The company exported locomotives, and machine tools to service them, throughout the world.

Beyer, Peacock and Company Limited
IndustryLocomotive manufacturing
Founded1854
England
FoundersCharles Beyer
Richard Peacock
Henry Robertson
Defunct1966 (1966)
Headquarters
Greater Manchester
Areas served
Africa, South America, Asia, Australia and South Pacific
ProductsLocomotives and machine tools

Founders

German-born Charles Beyer had undertaken engineering training related to cotton milling in Dresden before moving to England in 1831 aged 21. He secured employment as a draughtsman at Sharp, Roberts and Company's Atlas works in central Manchester, which manufactured cotton mill machinery and had just started building locomotives for the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. There he was mentored by head engineer and prolific inventor of cotton mill machinery, Richard Roberts. By the time he resigned 22 years later he was well established as the company's head engineer; he had been involved in producing more than 600 locomotives.

Richard Peacock had been chief engineer of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway's locomotive works in Gorton when he resigned in 1854, confident in his ability to secure orders to build locomotives. Beyer’s resignation presented Peacock with a partnership opportunity. However, the business at the outset (Beyer, Peacock & Co.) was a legal partnership and the partners were therefore liable for debts should the business fail; in a mid-Victorian economic climate of boom and bust, it was a risky venture. Beyer could raise £9,524 (nearly £900,000 in 2015) and Peacock £5,500, but they still required a loan from Charles Geach (founder of the Midland Bank and first treasurer to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers), of which Beyer and Peacock had been founding members. Soon afterwards, however, Geach died, the loan was recalled, and the whole project nearly collapsed. Thomas Brassey came to the rescue, persuading Henry Robertson to provide a £4,000 loan in return for being the third (sleeping) partner.[1] It was not until 1883 that the company was incorporated as a private limited company and renamed Beyer, Peacock & Co. Ltd. In 1902 it took on its final form as a public limited company.[2][note 1]

During the Great Depression, faced with competition from tramways and electric railways, the company began to look for alternatives so that they were not dependent on one product. In 1932 they acquired their first company and in 1949 formed a joint company with Metropolitan-Vickers to build locomotives other than steam. By 1953 Beyer, Peacock had acquired more than five subsidiary companies; two others followed five years later. In 1958 Beyer, Peacock (Hymek) Ltd was formed.[2]

Gorton Foundry

Layout of the Gorton Foundry workshops of Beyer, Peacock and Co. Ltd

Beyer and Peacock started building their Gorton Foundry in 1854 two miles east from the centre of Manchester at Openshaw on a 12-acre site, on the opposite (south) side of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway (MS&LR) line from Peacock's previous works.[note 2] The site was chosen because land was cheaper than in the city, allowing ample room to expand, and there was a good water supply from an MS&LR reservoir. At the Foundry, Beyer designed and manufactured machine tools needed to build the locomotives, and oversaw locomotive design and production. Peacock dealt with the business side, often travelling to continental Europe to secure orders.[3]

In July 1855 the first locomotive, built for the Great Western Railway, left Gorton Foundry. Between 1854 and 1868 the company built 844 locomotives, of which 476 were exported. The company sold mainly to the British colonies, Southern Africa and South America; it never broke into the North American market.[2]

During the First World War Beyer, Peacock manufactured artillery; in August 1915 Gorton Works was put under government control with production switching almost entirely to the war effort, especially heavy field artillery. During the Second World War, the company was again brought under government control but continued to build locomotives throughout the war.[2]

Condensing locomotives for underground railways

Beyer, Peacock's innovative condensing locomotive of 1871 – the inaugural motive power for London's underground railway. The large black pipe and another on the right-hand side took steam from the cylinders to the side tanks rather than ejecting it into the atmosphere as on conventional locomotives.

A technological innovation that strengthened the company's reputation was the world's first successful condensing[note 3] locomotive design for London's first underground railway – the Metropolitan Railway A Class 4-4-0 tank engine. Between 1864 and 1886, 148 were built for various railways; most operated until the lines' electrification in 1905. The locomotives' main designer, Hermann Ludwig Lange (1837–92), was a native of Beyer's home town, Plauen, Saxony (now Germany) who had undertaken an apprenticeship followed by engineering training. Beyer had invited him to England in 1861 and employed him for the first year in the company workshops, then as a draughtsman under his direction. He became chief draughtsman in 1864 or 1865. After Beyer's death in 1876, he became chief engineer and co-manager of the company.[1][4]

Beyer-Garratt articulated locomotives

The three separate units of a Beyer-Garratt locomotive. The tractive effort of this locomotive was double that of its 4-8-0 predecessor. (Click to enlarge.)

An articulated locomotive design that became renowned in the 20th century was another innovation, the Beyer-Garratt articulated locomotive (generically known as a "Garratt"), invented by Herbert William Garratt, who was granted a patent in 1908; Beyer, Peacock had sole rights of manufacture in Britain. After the patents ran out in 1928, the company began to use the name "Beyer-Garratt" to distinguish their locomotives.[2] They became widely used throughout Africa, South America, Asia, Australia and the South Pacific, where difficult terrain and lightly laid, tightly curved track, usually narrow-gauge, severely limited the weight and power output of conventional locomotives. In Garratt's design, two girders holding a boiler[note 4] and a cab were slung between two "engine" units, each with cylinders, wheels and motion. The weight of the locomotive was therefore spread over a considerable distance. Both engine units were topped by water tanks. The unit adjoining the cab end also held a fuel bunker.[5][6]

Between 1909 and 1958, Beyer, Peacock built more than a thousand Garratts;[7] significant types are listed below. Among them, three of the most significant are preserved (see the "Preserved steam locomotives" table below):

Diesel and electric locomotives

In the decade following 1954, the company built four types of diesel-powered locomotives and two electric types, listed below.

Decline and closure

The late 1950s saw a rapid transformation in locomotive manufacture. In 1955 British Railways decided to switch from steam to diesel traction and by then overseas railways had done the same. A major problem the company soon faced was that it had chosen to make diesel-hydraulic locomotives when the Western Region had opted for lightweight locomotives with hydraulic transmission under the British Railways Modernisation Plan of 1955; but British Railways opted for diesel-electrics.[note 5] The company all but closed down the Gorton Foundry at the end of 1958.[2]

In 1966, after 112 years of operation, all production ceased at Gorton Foundry.[2] During that time, the company had built nearly 8,000 locomotives.[7]

As of 2012 the building that housed the former boiler shop, tender shop and bolier mounting shop – 550 feet (167 metres) in length – remained in use as part of the Hammerstone Road Depot of Manchester City Council.

(click to enlarge)

Classes of locomotives

Non-articulated

List shows delivery year(s), railway and locomotive class, wheel arrangement (Whyte notation) and number in order.

Beyer-Garratt (articulated)

List shows delivery year(s), railway and locomotive class, wheel arrangement (Whyte notation) and number in order.

Steam turbine

Diesel

Electric

Preserved locomotives

Click "Show" to display.

Preserved steam locomotives built by Beyer, Peacock
BP No.BuiltCompany built forLocomotive numberClassWheel arrangementPreserved at
331856Statens Järnvägar3 (43) Prins AugustB2-4-0On display at Swedish Railway Museum, Gävle
2391861Statens Järnvägar22 (506) ThorÄ(Qä)0-4-2}TOn display at Swedish Railway Museum, Gävle
1863T.B./later NORTE29 Basconia4-4-0}TOn display at Abando Station, Bilbao
5331865Maatschappij tot Exploitatie van Staatsspoorwegen13 (NS 705)9-162-4-0On display at Dutch Railway Museum, Utrecht
7101866Metropolitan Railway23A4-4-0TLondon Transport Museum, at Covent Garden
6271866Statens järnvägar75 GötaA(Aa)2-2-2On display at Swedish Railway Museum, Gävle
8091867Statens järnvägar93 JernsidaG(Gc)0-6-0Nynäs, Swedish Railway Museum, Gävle, see 1442
8461868St. Petersburg & Helsingfors Railway9B10-4-2TFinnish Railway Museum, Hyvinkää
12531873Isle of Man Railway1 Sutherland2-4-0TStored pending rebuild (Isle of Man Railway)
12551873Isle of Man Railway3 Pender2-4-0TOn display at the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry (sectioned exhibit)
14161874Isle of Man Railway4 Loch2-4-0TIn service (Isle of Man Steam Railway)
14171874Isle of Man Railway5 Mona2-4-0TStored (Isle of Man Railway)
14421867Statens järnvägar161 WikG(Gc)0-6-0Nynäs, Swedish Railway Museum, Gävle marked Gc 93
15241875Isle of Man Railway6 Peveril2-4-0TOn display at the Port Erin Railway Museum
16471877NSW Government Railways1905Z190-6-0NSW Rail Museum
17671878NSW Government Railways120
(1210 after 1924)
Z12 class4-4-0Canberra Railway Museum
18271879Beyer, Peacock and Company18270-4-0STOperational at Foxfield Railway
19331880Bergslagernas Järnvägar27K0-6-0Nynäs, Swedish Railway Museum, Gävle
20281880Manx Northern Railway3 Thornhill2-4-0TPrivately preserved (Isle of Man)
20381880Isle of Man Railway7 Tynwald2-4-0TDismantled for spares. Frames moved to Southwold Railway
21011881Maatschappij tot Exploitatie van Staatsspoorwegen326 (NS 1326)301-4752-4-0On display at Dutch Railway Museum, Utrecht
?1883Ferrocarril del Sud46?4-4-0Mar del Plata railway station on static display
26011886Mersey Railway/J. & A. Brown1 The MajorI0-6-4TNSW Rail Museum, Thirlmere, NSW, Australia
26051886Mersey Railway5 Cecil RaikesI0-6-4TMuseum of Liverpool
27111886Western Australian Government RailwaysA11A2-6-0Meredith, Victoria, Australia?
32761890Ferrocarril Alcoy Gandia2 Villalonga2-6-2TOn display at Al-Azraq Square, Alcoi, Spain
32821891Ferrocarril Alcoy Gandia7 Cocentaina2-6-2TOn display at Gandia station, Spain
34021891NSW Government Railways3203C324-6-0NSW Rail Museum
34131892NSW Government Railways3214C324-6-0Valley Heights Locomotive Depot Heritage Museum
34361892NSW Government Railways3237C324-6-0Operational, Lachlan Valley Railway
36101894Isle of Man Railway8 Fenella2-4-0TIn service (Isle of Man Railway)
36411894Nippon Railway, JapanB104B104-4-0 -> 4-4-2TKominato Railway, Ichihara, Chiba, Japan
38151896Isle of Man Railway9 Douglas2-4-0TStored (Isle of Man Railway)
39111897Nippon Railway, Japan554055004-4-0Ome Railway Park, Ome, Tokyo, Japan
40281898Tobu Railway, Japan5B14-4-0Tobu Museum, Sumida, Tokyo, Japan[9]
40291898Tobu Railway, Japan6B14-4-0Tobu Museum, Sumida, Tokyo, Japan[9]
42211901NSW Government Railways3265 HunterC324-6-0Operational, Powerhouse Museum
43721902NSW Government Railways5069D502-8-0Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum
46621905Isle of Man Railway10 G.H. Wood2-4-0TIn service (Isle of Man Steam Railway)
46631905Isle of Man Railway11 Maitland2-4-0TStored pending rebuild (Isle of Man Railway)
47481906Central Uruguay Railway88N2-6-0On display (Paysandú station, Uruguay)
47501906Central Uruguay Railway92N2-6-0On display in bad shape (San José, Uruguay)
47511906Central Uruguay Railway93N2-6-0On display (Young, Uruguay)
49431907Central Uruguay Railway96N2-6-0On display (City bus terminal, Artigas, Uruguay)
50541908NSW Government Railways5112D502-8-0Bathurst
50741909NSW Government Railways5132D502-8-0Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum
51261908Isle of Man Railway12 Hutchinson2-4-0TIn service (Isle of Man Steam Railway)
52921909Tasmanian Government RailwaysK1K0-4-0+0-4-0Welsh Highland Railway (Caernarfon)
53821910Isle of Man Railway13 Kissack2-4-0TAwaiting new boiler (Isle of Man Railway)
53991910Central Uruguay Railway119N32-6-0In working order (CEFU, Montevideo, Uruguay)
54001910Central Uruguay Railway120N32-6-0In service (AUAR, Montevideo, Uruguay)
22541911South Maitland Railways10, 17–20, 22–28, 30–31102-8-2T2 Operational, 12 in
55481912Victorian RailwaysD2 604D24-6-0On display at ARHS Vic Railway Museum, Australia
58071914NSW Government Railways3112C304-6-4TStored, Private ownership, Canberra
62681926Victorian RailwaysG 42G 2-6-0+0-6-2Puffing Billy Railway
62961926Isle of Man Railway16 Mannin2-4-0TOn display at the Port Erin Railway Museum
15721928London and North Eastern Railway8572LNER B12 (GER Class S69)4-6-0Operational at the North Norfolk Railway
66391930South African Railways2352GL4-8-2+2-8-4Manchester Museum of Science and Industry
69351939Fyansford Cement Works Railway22-6-0+0-6-2Bellarine Railway, Victoria, Australia
73401950Rhodesia Railways398 Isidumuka15A4-6-4+4-6-4Flying Fifteen Group, Steam Incorporated Paekakariki
74281951South African Railways127NGG 162-6-2+2-6-2Puffing Billy Railway, Victoria, Australia
74301951South African Railways129NGG 162-6-2+2-6-2Puffing Billy Railway, Victoria, Australia
76241951South Australian Railways402400 class4-8-2+2-8-4National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide
76311951South Australian Railways409400 class4-8-2+2-8-4National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide
75821953Rhodesia Railways50914A4-8-2+2-8-4Mainline Steam Heritage Trust Plimmerton New Zealand
75311954NSW Government Railways6029AD604-8-4+4-8-4Canberra Railway Museum
76501955East African Railways5918EAR 59 class4-8-2+2-8-4Nairobi Railway Museum
77021955East African Railways5930EAR 59 class4-8-2+2-8-4Nairobi Railway Museum
75411956NSW Government Railways6039AD604-8-4+4-8-4Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum
75421956NSW Government Railways6040AD604-8-4+4-8-4NSW Rail Museum
75441956NSW Government Railways6042AD604-8-4+4-8-4Dorrigo Steam Railway & Museum
76811956South African Railways4083GMAM4-8-2+2-8-4Mainline Steam Heritage Trust Mercer, New Zealand
78631958South African RailwaysNG138NGG 162-6-2+2-6-2Welsh Highland Railway (Caernarfon)
78651958South African RailwaysNG140NGG 162-6-2+2-6-2Welsh Highland Railway (Caernarfon)
78681958South African RailwaysNG143NGG 162-6-2+2-6-2Welsh Highland Railway (Caernarfon)
Preserved diesel locomotives built by Beyer, Peacock
79111962British RailwaysD7017BR Class 35 HymekBo-BoWest Somerset Railway
79121962British RailwaysD7018BR Class 35 HymekBo-BoWest Somerset Railway
79231962British RailwaysD7029BR Class 35 HymekBo-BoSevern Valley Railway
79801963British RailwaysD7076BR Class 35 HymekBo-BoEast Lancs Railway
?1964British RailwaysD8568British Rail Class 17Bo-BoChinnor and Princes Risborough Railway
80381965British RailwaysD7628, 25278 SybillaBR Class 25Bo-BoNorth Yorkshire Moors Railway - Operational
80391965British RailwaysD7629, 25279BR Class 25Bo-BoGreat Central Railway (Nottingham) - Operational
80431965British RailwaysD7633, 25283BR Class 25Bo-BoDean Forest Railway - Operational
Preserved electric locomotives built by Beyer, Peacock
BP No.BuiltCompany built forLocomotive number(s)ClassWheel arrangementPreserved at
1956NSWGR460146 ClassCo-CoValley Heights Locomotive Depot Heritage Museum
1956NSWGR460246 ClassCo-CoDorrigo Steam Railway & Museum
1956NSWGR461546 ClassCo-CoJunee Roundhouse Museum on permanent loan from the Sydney Electric Train Society
1956NSWGR462746 ClassCo-CoSydney Electric Train Society
1956NSWGR463846 ClassCo-CoNSW Rail Museum, Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot[10]
1961British RailwaysE3054, 82008BR Class 82Bo-BoBarrow Hill Engine Shed

Notes

  1. The public company was incorporated as Beyer, Peacock & Co. (1902) Ltd; the "(1902)" was dropped in 1903.
  2. The two works were adjacent, on either side of the line between the present-day stations of Ashburys and Gorton.
  3. By condensing steam, little of it emanated from the locomotives, and using coke (later, "smokeless" Welsh coal) greatly reduced smoke pollution.
  4. Significant in the performance of the boiler, hence power output, was that the Garratt's firebox was no longer confined to the narrow space between a locomotive's frame but was constrained only by the much greater distance between girders.
  5. Beyer Peacock (Hymek) Ltd was formed as a joint venture between Bristol Siddeley Engines, which was licensed to build Maybach engines, and Stone-Platt Industries, licensed to build Mekydro transmissions.

References

  1. Bruce, J. Graeme (1971). Steam to silver. London: London Transport. ISBN 9780853290124.
  2. "Beyer Peacock & Co Ltd". Science Museum Group. Science Museum Group. 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  3. Hills, R.L.; Patrick, D. (1982). Beyer, Peacock: Locomotive builders to the world. Glossop: Transport Publishing Co. ISBN 0903839415.
  4. "Hermann Ludwig Lange". Grace's Guide to British industrial history. Grace's Guide Project. 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  5. Walker, Rosanne (18 August 2011). "Garratt, Herbert William (1864-1913)". Encyclopedia of Australian Science. The University of Melbourne eScholarship Research Centre. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  6. "Beyer-Garratt". Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica. 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  7. Atkins (1999), p. 104.
  8. Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 109–110. ISBN 0869772112.
  9. Tobu Museum exhibit guide Archived 22 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 11 March 2009 (in Japanese).
  10. 'Veteran electric finds new home as in-traffic units face uncertain future'. Railway Digest. July 1998. p. 10.

Select bibliography

  • Atkins, P. (1999). The golden age of steam locomotive building. Atlantic. pp. 66–67. ISBN 978-0906899878.
  • Durrant, A.E. (1981). Garratt locomotives of the world (rev. and enl. ed.). David & Charles. ISBN 0715376411.
  • Hills, Richard L.; Patrick, D. (1982). Beyer, Peacock, locomotive builders to the world. Glossop: Transport Publishing Co. ISBN 0-903839-41-5.
  • Lowe, James W. (1989) [1975]. "Beyer, Peacock & Company". British steam locomotive builders. London: Guild Publishing. pp. 59–64. ISBN 0900404213.
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