Isaac Watt Boulton

1899.

1899. Boulton's Motor Carriage.

1875. 28 hp semi-portable engine and locomotive boiler.

Isaac Watt Boulton (1823–1899) was a British engineer and founder of Boulton's Siding, the locomotive hire business

1823 Born at Stockport the son of John Boulton of Glossop

In 1841 Boulton began an apprenticeship with the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway under Richard Peacock.

1841 Living at Katherine Street, Ashton (age 17), Bookkeeper. With parents and sister Sarah (age 14).

Joined his father's canal boat business and remained there until 1845.

1845 Agent for the Royal Exchange Assurance Co

After this he set up an engineering business but little is known about it except that he built at least one steam carriage (probably similar to those built by Richard Trevithick and Goldsworthy Gurney) and at least one steamboat.

1847 January. Convicted with his father John of stealing a boat and sentenced to three months imprisonment

1851 Living at Katherine Street. Ashton-under-Lyne (age 27 born Stockport), Agent. With wife Ann (age 27 born Ashton) and sons Thomas (age 6) and William (age 1). One servant.

1853 Partnership dissolved between Isaac Watt Boulton and William Wheatley of Great Grimsby, Lincolnshire, engineers

1854 Two persons convicted of robbing him with violence of a gold watch

In 1854 he joined the locomotive department of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway at Gorton.

He left in 1856 and set up another engineering business at Portland Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, where he built and repaired steam engines of various kinds.

In 1858–1859 he bought three second-hand railway locomotives (2-2-0 tender engines built by Bury) and started to hire them out for temporary jobs. The locomotive-hire side of the business grew and so a connection to the nearest railway line was needed. This led, in 1864, to the construction of Boulton's Siding, alongside the Oldham branch of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway.

1861 Living at Moss Street, Ashton-under-Lyne: Isaac W. Boulton (age 36 born Stockport), Mechanical Engineer. With his wife Ann Boulton (age 36 born Preston Brook) and their five children; Thomas Boulton (age 16 born Manchester), William Boulton (age 11 born Ashton), Helena Boulton (age 7 born Ashton), Percy H. Boulton (age 5 born Ashton) and James Boulton (age 3 born Ashton). One servant.

1867 Report of various journeys in a steam car he built

1867 The first recorded race of two self powered road vehicles over a prescribed route was between Ashton-under-Lyne and Old Trafford, a distance of eight miles. It was won by Isaac Watt Boulton against Daniel Adamson, each in steam cars of their own manufacture.

1869 He inherits mills, factories, warehouses and cottages in Ashton-under-Lyne from William Wright Platt of Kirkennen, Kirkcudbright. Note: In 1861 William W. Platt of Kirkennen is aged 29 and described as a Fundholder.

1869 Built a steam carriage. Details and image from his son JWB in 1905.

1871 Patent for improvements in steam boilers.

1873 Image of a steam car built at Ashton-under-Lyne.

1875 'ENGINE WORKS AT ASHTON. (FROM "THE MANUFACTURER.") A short resume of a visit to the engine works of Mr I. W. Boulton, Ashton-under-Lyne, will, we imagine, possess as much interest for the general reader as for those better acquainted, and, from the nature of their business, taking a more personal and practical interest in the technical details of engine construction. The spirit of mechanical genius and invention is so strong in the minds of all ages and classes of men, that an apology is never needed for introducing the description of the construction of machines, whether it be of a general or technical character. The original works are situated in Portland-street, North street, and consist of a smithy, fitted with the latest appliances, including cranes and a very useful steam hammer, by Messrs B. and S. Massey, capable of working shafts up to 8 inches diameter. The turnery ia fitted with lathes, planing, shaping, and slotting machines, of various sizes and by the most eminent makers - including Whitworth, Smith and Coventry, Craven Brothers, Kendall and Kent — planing machines for articles up to 21 feet long, lathes to turn or bore up to 8 feet diameter, and one lathe by Scriven and Co., of Leeds, to take articles 42 inches diameter, 30 feet long; over these runs a traveller capable of raising 15 tons. The erecting shops, also, are fitted with overhead travellers capable of lifting 15 and 5 tons respectively. We noticed, finished and in progress, at these works, upwards of fifty horizontal steam engines of various sizes, from 20 inches diameter of cylinder down to 7 inches — a great many piled up ready for instant delivery. We also observed in progress a large number of pulleys or riggers up to 6 feet diameter. The new works are also situate in Portland-street and adjoining the railway, from which there are sidings direct into the yard and works. The turning and erecting shop here is a fine building, 368 feet long by 46 feet wide, and is fitted with two travelling cranes capable of lifting 30 tons each, and traversing from end to end. In addition to these, there is a railway 4 feet 8 1/2 inches gauge down the centre, upon which are several portable jib cranes; a locomotive engine and tender may be placed on these rails and run out when finished. The tools here are of a very massive construction; at one end a large lathe and planing machine is combined, by Collier & Co; this will turn an article 6 feet diameter 40 feet long, or plane 7 feet square by 18 feet long - at the time of our visit it was engaged planing a cylinder for a pair of 30-inch winding engines. Next to this we noticed a lathe boring steel tyres for loco-wheels; this is capable of turning 5 feet diameter 35 feet long. Adjoining these are three fine lathes, by Collier & Co., adapted for shafting, one 40 feet long and two 35 feet long. Next comes a large slotting machine and drill by Whitworth. The slotting machine has a stroke of 32 inches, and the drill will bore 24 inches diameter 5 feet deep. In addition to these are a number of small lathes, pillar drills, planing, and shaping machines. In the portion appropriated to the erecting shop we noticed finished several portable engines, from 5 up to 30 horse power; also several horizontal engines, including a very fine pair of 30-inch cylinders, 6-feet stroke, several others, including 24-inch cylinders, 20-inch, 18-inch, 16 1/2-inch, 15-inch, and 12-inch, in pairs. A little further on are several loco. tank engines in course of construction or repairs; these include three with 15-inch cylinders, six coupled wheels, and one with 12-inch cylinders. Further on we come to the boiler shop; here we see some fine tools, viz.. plate bending rolls, 11 feet wide, another set 4 feet wide punching and shearing machines, capable of punching 1 1/2 inch hole in 1 1/2 inch plate, or cutting 1 1/2 inch plate 24 inch cold.[?] We noticed, in course of construction were several locomotive boilers on Mr Boulton's patent principle; also portable engine boilers, saddle tanks, and coal boxes, &c., for locomotives. Leaving the works and entering the yard, we were completely lost among a variety of plant. 0n one side were about a dozen locomotive engines of various sizes, ready for work, for sale, or hire; also portable engines and mortar mills. Then we come to an immense pile of wrought iron shafts of all sizes up to 18-inch diameter 30 feet long, also wrought-iron cranks. At a low estimate we should think there is 500 tons in this pile. Two very fine portable engines we must not forget - one consists af an ordinary loco.-shape boiler, with a 20-inch cylinder, 2-feet 6-inch stroke, 120 lbs. pressure. These are let out to mill owners and others, in case of break down, &c. Mr Boulton is also a very extensive dealer in contractors' plant. He purchased the greater part of the plant used at the Holyhead breakwater, including steam and hand cranes, rails, and locomotive engines; also all the locomotives used by Government at Portland breakwater, and a great many engines and several hundred tons of plant used in the making of the Suez Canal.'

1880 A memorial as a stone boulder in Ashton. The inscription reads "This bowlder was placed here by Alderman Isaac Watt Boulton J.P. of Stamford House Ashton under Lyne in affectionate remembrance of his eldest son Thomas Boulton who was for 9 years a warden of this church born November 5th 1844 and died at sea February 5th 1880 on board the H.M.S.S. Kinfauns Castle whilst on a voyage to the Cape of Good Hope to recruit his health. His remains were committed to the deep in Lat 11° 30' south Long 2° 30' west February 6th 1880.

1880 Listed as an Alderman and a magistrate

1881 Living at Stamford House, Manchester Road, Ashton-under-Lyne: Isaac Watt Boulton (age 57 born Stockport), Mechanical Engineer, Widower. Living with son James W. Boulton (age 22), Mechanical Engineer; daughter-in-law Helena B. (age 18); son John J. (age 16); son Harold W. (age 14); sister-in-law Sarah Rassbottom (age 47), Unmarried. One servant.

1888 One person convicted of breaking on to his warehouse

1896 Complaint against him as a magistrate.

1899 Obituary. Inventor of patent block wheels for traction engines. One time large locomotive manufacturer of of Portland Street, Ashton. He built and ran the first traction engine driving it from Ashton to Old Trafford, and fitted the first steam launch used of Hollingsworth Lake. Native of Littleborough but lived all his life at Ashton and Fairfield.

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Obituary 1899

"...record the death of Isaac Watt Boulton, J.P., of Ashton-under-Lyne, on the 20th inst, in his seventy fifth year, who for many years carried on an extensive engineering business chiefly amongst colliery and railway contractors, and was closely connected with some of the largest works in the country. It is claimed for him that he was the pioneer of narrow-gauge railways, having designed and constructed the first engine 2ft. gauge for a short line near Wigan, and at the time the commercial value of such a small engine was much criticised. Its success is fully described in the work of A. Clarke..."More.

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Extract from Steam Locomotion on Common Roads by William Fletcher. Published 1891.

Thomas Boulton, in August, 1867, says: "I ran a small road locomotive constructed by Mr. Isaac W. Boulton, of Ashton-under-Lyne, from here through Manchester, Eccles, Warrington, Preston Brook, to Chester, paraded the principal streets of Chester, and returned home, the distance being over ninety miles in one day without a stoppage except for water. I believe this to be the longest continuous run on record ever accomplished by any road locomotive within twenty-four hours."

But in this Mr. Boulton was mistaken. We have stated in a previous article that Hill ran from London to Hastings and back in one day, a distance of one hundred and twenty-eight miles.

Boulton's engine had one cylinder 4.5in. diameter, and 9in. stroke. The boiler was worked at one hundred and thirty pounds pressure per square inch. The driving wheels were 5ft. in diameter. The driving and the single steering wheels were provided with springs.

Two speeds were obtained by means of two trains of spur gearing between the crank shaft and the counter shaft, the motion of the counter shaft was transmitted to the axle by a pitch chain; the ratios of the gearing were 6.5 to 1, and 11 to 1. During the trip recorded above, six persons were carried all the distance, and sometimes there were eight and ten passengers. This is the little engine which ran a race with Mr. Adamson's locomotive, recorded in a previous chapter.

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The Chronicles of Boulton's Siding

Alfred Rosling Bennett wrote an entertaining account of Isaac Watt Boulton's life and work, focusing on the locomotives which his firm built and repaired.

A. R. Bennett wrote that 'The greater part of Boulton's old works are now occupied by the National Gas Engine Company, but so many extensions and additions have been made that but little of the old premises can be identified from the outside.'

See Also

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Sources of Information

• [1] Wikipedia