Difference between revisions of "Foster, Rastrick and Co: Stourbridge Lion"
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[[Image:1828_Stourbridge_Lion.jpg|thumb|Stourbridge Lion 1828]] | [[Image:1828_Stourbridge_Lion.jpg|thumb|Stourbridge Lion 1828]] | ||
[[image:Im1925EnV139-p34b.jpg |thumb| 1829.]] | [[image:Im1925EnV139-p34b.jpg |thumb| 1829.]] | ||
The Stourbridge Lion was a railway | The Stourbridge Lion was a steam railway locomotive. It was not only the first to be tried out in the United States, it was also one of the first locomotives to operate outside of Great Britain, where it was manufactured by [[Foster, Rastrick and Co]] in 1828. | ||
The locomotive evidently acquired its name from the picture of a lion's face that was painted on the front of the locomotive by its maker, Foster, Rastrick & Co of Stourbridge. | The locomotive evidently acquired its name from the picture of a lion's face that was painted on the front of the locomotive by its maker, Foster, Rastrick & Co of Stourbridge. | ||
The cylinders were 8.5ins in diameter and with a 36in stroke. The boiler was 48ins in diameter and 10ft 6ins long. | The cylinders were 8.5ins in diameter and with a 36in stroke. The boiler was 48ins in diameter and 10ft 6ins long. The working pressure was 50 psi. | ||
Stourbridge Lion was one of the first four locomotives built for the Delaware and Hudson Canal Co. Two others were built by [[Foster, Rastrick and Co]] - [[Foster, Rastrick and Co: Delaware| Delaware]] and [[Foster, Rastrick and Co: Hudson| Hudson]]. [[Robert Stephenson and Co]] had completed their locomotive, the [[Robert Stephenson and Co: Pride of Newcastle| Pride of Newcastle]] before any of Rastrick's locomotives. It arrived in America nearly two months before the Stourbridge Lion, but it was the latter that was used for the first railroad trials. | Stourbridge Lion was one of the first four locomotives built for the Delaware and Hudson Canal Co. Two others were built by [[Foster, Rastrick and Co]] - [[Foster, Rastrick and Co: Delaware| Delaware]] and [[Foster, Rastrick and Co: Hudson| Hudson]]. [[Robert Stephenson and Co]] had completed their locomotive, the [[Robert Stephenson and Co: Pride of Newcastle| Pride of Newcastle]] before any of Rastrick's locomotives. It arrived in America nearly two months before the Stourbridge Lion, but it was the latter that was used for the first railroad trials. | ||
The locomotive was assembled after shipment at the West Point Foundry in New York where it was first tested under steam in 1829. Its first official run took place on August 8 of that year in Honesdale, PA. The locomotive performed admirably, but the wooden track | The locomotive was assembled after shipment at the West Point Foundry in New York where it was first tested under steam in 1829. Its first official run took place on August 8 of that year in Honesdale, PA. The locomotive itself performed admirably, but the railroad's wooden track, capped by 1/2" thick iron bar, was inadequate for the task. Curiously, an 1830 engraving by James Renwick shows the locomotive standing on fish-bellied iron rails. Jervis had specified that the locomotives should weigh no more than 4 tons; the Stourbridge Lion weighed nearly double that, 7.5 tons. | ||
Rastrick built a similar engine for local use (on the Shutt End Railway) in addition to the three that were sent to America. This engine, [[Foster, Rastrick and Co: Agenoria|The Agenoria]], worked until c.1865, and is currently preserved at the [[National Railway Museum]] in York. The American engineer Horatio Allen had visited Storbridge in 1828 and apparently saw the locomotive under construction. Allen who had been sent to England by John B. Jervis to procure locomotives. | Rastrick built a similar engine for local use (on the Shutt End Railway) in addition to the three that were sent to America. This engine, [[Foster, Rastrick and Co: Agenoria|The Agenoria]], worked until c.1865, and is currently preserved at the [[National Railway Museum]] in York. The American engineer Horatio Allen had visited Storbridge in 1828 and apparently saw the locomotive under construction. Allen who had been sent to England by John B. Jervis to procure locomotives. | ||
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The surviving components were united and preserved in the Smithsonian Institute until 2000, after which they went to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum. | The surviving components were united and preserved in the Smithsonian Institute until 2000, after which they went to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum. | ||
In 1927, in anticipation of the centenary, the Delaware & Hudson RR decided to construct an accurate replica of the Lion, and the Motive Power Superintendent, George Edmonds visited the UK, where, with the assistance of the Science Museum, he gleaned a great deal of information about The Agenoria. Steel was used instead of wrought iron, but care was taken to replicate the appearance of hand-forged components and riveted joints. Some safety-related dsign changes were made, including the provision of a band brake on one axle. In the event the work was not completed until 1933. The locomotive has run periodically, and was permanently loaned to the Wayne County Historical Society. It isbased at Honedale, close to the original's first public demonstration. | |||
== See Also == | == See Also == | ||
Revision as of 17:55, 9 January 2022
The Stourbridge Lion was a steam railway locomotive. It was not only the first to be tried out in the United States, it was also one of the first locomotives to operate outside of Great Britain, where it was manufactured by Foster, Rastrick and Co in 1828.
The locomotive evidently acquired its name from the picture of a lion's face that was painted on the front of the locomotive by its maker, Foster, Rastrick & Co of Stourbridge.
The cylinders were 8.5ins in diameter and with a 36in stroke. The boiler was 48ins in diameter and 10ft 6ins long. The working pressure was 50 psi.
Stourbridge Lion was one of the first four locomotives built for the Delaware and Hudson Canal Co. Two others were built by Foster, Rastrick and Co - Delaware and Hudson. Robert Stephenson and Co had completed their locomotive, the Pride of Newcastle before any of Rastrick's locomotives. It arrived in America nearly two months before the Stourbridge Lion, but it was the latter that was used for the first railroad trials.
The locomotive was assembled after shipment at the West Point Foundry in New York where it was first tested under steam in 1829. Its first official run took place on August 8 of that year in Honesdale, PA. The locomotive itself performed admirably, but the railroad's wooden track, capped by 1/2" thick iron bar, was inadequate for the task. Curiously, an 1830 engraving by James Renwick shows the locomotive standing on fish-bellied iron rails. Jervis had specified that the locomotives should weigh no more than 4 tons; the Stourbridge Lion weighed nearly double that, 7.5 tons.
Rastrick built a similar engine for local use (on the Shutt End Railway) in addition to the three that were sent to America. This engine, The Agenoria, worked until c.1865, and is currently preserved at the National Railway Museum in York. The American engineer Horatio Allen had visited Storbridge in 1828 and apparently saw the locomotive under construction. Allen who had been sent to England by John B. Jervis to procure locomotives.
The Stourbridge Lion was laid up, until about 1845 when it was dismantled and various components dispersed for use elsewhere.
The surviving components were united and preserved in the Smithsonian Institute until 2000, after which they went to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum.
In 1927, in anticipation of the centenary, the Delaware & Hudson RR decided to construct an accurate replica of the Lion, and the Motive Power Superintendent, George Edmonds visited the UK, where, with the assistance of the Science Museum, he gleaned a great deal of information about The Agenoria. Steel was used instead of wrought iron, but care was taken to replicate the appearance of hand-forged components and riveted joints. Some safety-related dsign changes were made, including the provision of a band brake on one axle. In the event the work was not completed until 1933. The locomotive has run periodically, and was permanently loaned to the Wayne County Historical Society. It isbased at Honedale, close to the original's first public demonstration.
See Also
Sources of Information
- 'Locomotion - The World's Oldest Steam Locomotives' by Michael R. Bailey, The History Press, 2014
- [1] Wikipedia