Robert Sinclair (locomotive engineer)
Robert Sinclair (1 July 1817 – 20 October 1898) was born in London but came from a Caithness family. He became Chief Mechanical Engineer of several British railways and also worked in France. He retired to Italy, where he died.[1]
Robert Sinclair | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 July 1817 London, England |
| Died | 20 October 1898 |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Charterhouse School |
| Occupation | Engineer |
| Engineering career | |
| Discipline | Mechanical engineering |
Career
Early years
He was apprenticed to a shipbuilder and later worked for Robert Stephenson, the Grand Junction Railway and the Paris and Rouen Railway.[2]
Chief mechanical engineer
He was Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Caledonian Railway (CR) from 1847–1856, the Eastern Counties Railway (ECR) from 1856–1862 and, following a merger of railways, of the Great Eastern Railway (GER) from 1862–1865.[3]
Consulting engineer
Sinclair resigned from the GER 1865, and became a consulting engineer. In this capacity, he designed a fast 2-4-2 locomotive for the Great Luxemburg Railway, and an outside cylinder 2-4-0 for the East Indian Railway. The Luxembourg 2-4-2 design was later adapted into a 2-4-2T for commuter services on the GER.[4]
Locomotive designs
- Caledonian, see Locomotives of the Caledonian Railway
- ECR/GER, see Locomotives of the Great Eastern Railway
Innovations
Sinclair was an early user of:[5]
- the Giffard injector
- the use of steel for railway axles and wheel tyres
- roller bearings for carriages
References
- "Robert Sinclair". www.steamindex.com. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
- steamindex.com
- "LNER Encyclopedia: Robert Sinclair". www.lner.info. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
- lner.info
- steamindex.com
| Business positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by (First loco engineer) |
Locomotive Superintendent of the Caledonian Railway 1847–1856 |
Succeeded by Benjamin Connor |
| Preceded by John Viret Gooch |
Locomotive Superintendent of the Eastern Counties Railway 1856–1862 |
Post abolished Company merged into the Great Eastern Railway |
| Preceded by (First loco engineer) |
Locomotive Superintendent of the Great Eastern Railway 1862–1865 |
Succeeded by Samuel Waite Johnson |