John Viret Gooch (1812-1900) was the locomotive superintendent of the London and South Western Railway from 1841 to 1850.
1812 June 29th. Born the son of John Gooch of Bedlington and his wife Anna the daughter of Thomas Longridge of Newcastle.
He was a pupil of Joseph Locke during the construction of the Grand Junction Railway and became resident engineer after that line opened.
In 1840 he joined his older brother Thomas Longridge Gooch on the Manchester and Leeds Railway.
Gooch was recommended to the LSWR by Locke and appointed locomotive superintendent on 1st January 1841. Officially Locke remained in charge of the department.
Initially locomotives were purchased from a wide range of private manufacturers such as Edward Bury and Co and Nasmyth, Gaskell and Co.
From Jan 1843 the LSWR's own Nine Elms Works started production with the 'Eagle' class singles. Gooch's designs included a number of singles and the 'Bison' class 0-6-0 goods.
After leaving the LSWR in 1850, Gooch went to the Eastern Counties Railway. He was succeded on the LSWR by Joseph Hamilton Beattie
See Also
Sources of Information
[1] Wikipedia