Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company

Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company
General partnership
Industry Engineering
Heavy industry
Predecessor The Bridgewater Foundry
Successor James Nasmyth and Co.
Patricroft Ironworks
Nasmyth, Wilson and Co.
Founded 1836
Founder James Nasmyth
Holbrook Gaskell
Defunct Dissolved 1940
Headquarters Patricroft, Salford, United Kingdom
Products Heavy machine tools
Locomotives

Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company, originally called The Bridgewater Foundry, specialised in the production of heavy machine tools and locomotives. It was located in Patricroft, in Salford England, close to the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, the Bridgewater Canal and the Manchester Ship Canal. The company was founded in 1836 and dissolved in 1940.

Nasmyth

The company was founded in 1836 by James Nasmyth and Holbrook Gaskell.[1] Nasmyth had previously been employed in Henry Maudslay's workshop in Lambeth and his interest was mainly, but not limited to, specialist machine tools.

Modern materials handling

The Bridgewater Foundry is an example of modern materials handling that was part of the evolution of the assembly line.

The buildings were arranged in a line with a railway for carrying the work going through the buildings. Cranes were used for lifting the heavy work, which sometimes weighed in the tens of tons. The work passed sequentially through to the erection of the framework and final assembly.[2]

Machine tools

In the period up to 1856, the foundry concentrated on building a large number of machine tools. Before Nasmyth, machine tools were custom built on demand. Nasmyth published a catalogue of standard designs which he then marketed. His design for the steam hammer was produced first in France by Le Creusot, another firm. On seeing it, Nasmyth then ensured that it was correctly patented. He produced a complete range of steam hammers, planers and shapers. He designed and produced pile drivers and a hydraulic press.

Locomotives

The company produced nine locomotives in 1839, thirteen in 1840, eight in 1841 and sixteen in 1842.[3] These were sub-contracted from other makers such as Edward Bury, and produced to their designs.[4] Those for the Midland Counties and London and Southampton Railways were 2-2-0 with 5-foot-6-inch (1.676 m) driving wheels and 12-by-18-inch (305 mm × 457 mm) cylinders, similar to those railway's Bury machines. (One Midland Counties locomotive was 2-2-2, and had smaller drivers, with 5 ft 0 in (1.524 m) and 14-by-18-inch (356 mm × 457 mm) cylinders.) In 1841 the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway had found some American Norris 4-2-0 locomotives very successful, especially on the notorious Lickey Incline, and the company built six similar ones for the line.

Expansion

In 1850 the name of the firm was changed to James Nasmyth and Company, then in 1857 to Patricroft Ironworks. In 1867 Robert Wilson and Henry Garnett became the principal partners and the company's name changed again to Nasmyth, Wilson and Company.

From about 1873 the demand for locomotives from overseas increased. By 1938 over 1,650 locomotives had been produced, over one thousand of which were exported.[5]

In 1883, Nasmyth Wilson and Co. produced the very first design of Prairie or 2-6-2 locomotives in the world, for the New Zealand Railways Department. These locomotives entered traffic between 1885 and 1890 after a somewhat rough start. several were dumped in rivers as flood protection in the 1920s, and have since been exhumed for preservation.

Decline and closure

A Nasmyth steam hammer at the site of the former foundry

During World War I the factory was mainly engaged in munitions work, but it built twenty 2-8-0 locomotives for the French Chemin de fer de l'État (140-251 to 140-270) and 32 for India, along with a hundred small petrol driven locomotives.[6]

Sales continued after the end of the war but by the early 1930s orders had begun to dwindle.[7] In 1934 the works supplied four standard gauge N class 0-6-0T shunters to Palestine Railways.[8] These were evidently satisfactory as Palestine Railways bought four more in 1935, two in 1936 and a final pair in 1938.[9]

The last locomotive order was for two 2-6-4T metre gauge tank locomotives, Works No. 1649 and 1650, dispatched in 1938 to the South Indian Railways. Only two other locomotives were produced in 1938; these were the last pair of N class 0-6-0Ts for Palestine Railways, Works No. 1651 and 1652.[10] [8]

As part of a planned reorganisation of the industry, the company ceased manufacture of locomotives and handed over all its drawings and patterns to the British Locomotive Manufacturers Association.[11] The company continued to make steam hammers and machine tools.

On 1 June 1940 the Ministry of Supply took over the factory and it became an engineering Royal Ordnance Factory, ROF Patricroft.[12] The company, however, was formally wound up on 7 November 1940, having reported a loss of £2,663 for 1939.[13]

In 1987 the Royal Ordnance Factories were bought by British Aerospace and in 1989 the Patricroft engineering works was closed down. The site, including some of the original buildings, is now used as a business and technology centre.

By 2009 a large section (the central building) had been demolished.

Locomotive production list

Serial
numbers		YearQuantityCustomerClassWheel
arrangement		Road
numbers		Notes
25–3218418Great Western RailwayFirefly2-2-2various names[14] 7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm) gauge.
35–4218428Great Western RailwayFirefly2-2-2various names[14] 7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm) gauge.
43–4618424Great Western RailwayHurcules0-6-0various names[15] 7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm) gauge.
120–12418725Great Eastern Railway4770-6-0507–511[16] Renumbered 0507–0511 in 1899.
216–22318828Bengal Central RailwayH4-4-01–8[17] 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) gauge. Two to Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway, six to Eastern Bengal Railway
252–261188510New Zealand Government RailwaysV2-6-2various
272–281188510New Zealand Government RailwaysP2-8-0various
282–28418853Wellington and Manawatu Railway CompanyV2-6-26–8later New Zealand Government Railways 450–452
354–365188915Queensland RailwaysB154-6-0206–219
425–43018926London, Tilbury and Southend Railway14-4-2T31–36[18] to Midland Railway 2140–2146 in 1912
460–46218953Cambrian Railways0-4-4T3, 5, 7to Great Western Railway 10, 11, 15 in 1922
552–55718996Furness Railway70-6-07–12[19] to LMS 12468–12473 in 1923
558–56018993Cambrian Railways0-4-4T8, 9, 23to Great Western Railway 19–21 in 1922
561–56218992Neath and Brecon Railway0-6-0ST7–8to Great Western Railway 2174–2175 in 1922
584–58619003Brecon and Merthyr Railway0-6-0T27–29later Great Western Railway 2171–2173
588–59319006North Staffordshire Railway1590-6-0159–164[20] to LMS 2351–2356 in 1923
689–69319045Furness Railway980-6-2T98–102[21] to LMS 11625–11629 in 1923
697–70019044Donegal Railway44-6-4T12–15[22] 3 ft (914 mm) gauge. To County Donegal Railways Joint Committee in 1906; renumbered 9–12 in 1937
701–70619046East Indian Railway0-4-0ST1/980 to 6/980[23] 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) gauge. Construction locomotives.
748–75019053East Indian Railway0-4-0ST7/85 to 9/885[23] 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) gauge. Construction locomotives.
794–79819075East Indian RailwayMRailmotor1350–1354[24] 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) gauge. Rebuilt as works shunters between 1927 and 1929
800–809190710Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway8B2-6-2T289–2985 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) gauge. Renumbered 3401–3410 in 1912; to Ferrocarril General Roca in 1948
828–83319075County Donegal Railways Joint Committee52-6-4T16–20[22] 3 ft (914 mm) gauge. Renumbered 4–8 in 1937; three preserved
834–83619084Federated Malay States RailwaysH24-6-2131–1341,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) gauge.
839–84219084Federated Malay States RailwaysH24-6-279–821,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) gauge.
864–86919086Assam Bengal RailwayK/2
(BESA G)		4-8-0130–1351,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) gauge.
870–87519086Assam Bengal RailwayC/1
(BESA T)		2-6-2T70–751,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) gauge.
91119101Buenos Aires Midland RailwayF4-6-0381,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) gauge.
929–93319115Great Northern Railway (Ireland)NQG0-6-09, 109, 112, 38–39[22] 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) gauge.
945–94719113Eastern Bengal RailwaySP4-4-0265–267[25] 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) gauge. Renumbered 406–408.
95019111Great Northern Railway (Ireland)NLQG0-6-0165[22] 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) gauge.
951–9551911–125East Indian RailwayG2-8-0990–994[24] 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) gauge.
956–95819123County Donegal Railways Joint Committee5A2-6-4T2A, 3A, 21[22] 3 ft (914 mm) gauge. Renumbered 2, 3, 1 in 1937; one preserved
995–100019136Bombay Port TrustA2-6-0T1–6[26] 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) gauge
1009–101319135Kenya-Uganda RailwayEE2-6-4T391–3951,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) gauge. To East African Railways and Harbours Corporation 1001–1005; EAR&H class 10
1024–1023191310Bengal Nagpur RailwayB52-8-20066–0075
not in order		[27] 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge.
1026–103119146East Indian RailwayBT2-6-4T159–164[28] 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) gauge. Five renumbered 26821–26825 in all-India scheme.
1032–103319142Bombay Port TrustA2-6-0T7–8[26] 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) gauge
1041–104319133Kenya-Uganda RailwayEE2-6-4T396–3981,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) gauge. To East African Railways and Harbours Corporation 1006–1008; EAR&H class 10
1054–105919146East Indian RailwayST0-6-0T677–682[28] 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) gauge. Renumbered 34364–36369 in all-India scheme.
1060–106519156South African RailwaysJ2-6-4T341–346[29] 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge.
1087–109419158Bengal Nagpur RailwayBS12-8-20076–0083[27] 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge.
1106–111119156Bombay Port TrustA2-6-0T9–14[26] 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) gauge
1115–111919215Great Northern Railway (Ireland)T24-4-2T1–5[22] 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) gauge. Subcontracted to Beyer, Peacock & Co.
1120–11391916–1720Chemins de fer de l'État140-1012-8-0140-251 to 140-270[30]
1244–12671917–191824Railway Operating DivisionROD 2-8-02-8-01701–1724[31]
1269–1280191912Taff Vale RailwayA0-6-2Tvariousto Great Western Railway in 1922
1281–128819198Railway Operating DivisionROD 2-8-02-8-01725–1732[31]
1322–1332192111Assam Bengal RailwayH/7
(BESA M)		4-6-0143–1531,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) gauge.
135219211Assam Bengal RailwayH/7
(BESA M)		4-6-01541,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) gauge.
1357–135819222Bombay Port TrustH2-10-2T25–26[26] 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) gauge hump shunters
1359–1368192110Bombay Port TrustA2-6-0T15–24[26] 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) gauge.
1371–137519225Bengal Nagpur RailwayBS32-8-20096–00100[27] 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge. Renumbered 632–636 in 1957 all-India scheme
1423–142719245Great Northern Railway (Ireland)T24-4-2T21, 30, 115, 116, 139[22] 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) gauge.
1428–14321924–255Great Northern Railway (Ireland)SG20-6-015–19[22] 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) gauge.
1435–143919245Great Northern Railway (Ireland)T24-4-2T142–144, 147, 148[22] 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) gauge.
1448–145219255London, Midland and Scottish Railway3P4-4-2T2120–2124[32] Continuation of London, Tilbury and Southend Railway 79 class
1453–1462192510London, Midland and Scottish Railway2P0-4-4T15260–15269[33] Continuation of Caledonian Railway 431 Class
1471–147619266Nigerian Railways4-6-2405–4103 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge.
1482–148619265Barsi Light RailwayF2-8-219–23[34] 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge. Renumbered 712–716 in 1957 all-India scheme
1487–148819262Great Indian Peninsula RailwayB/12-8-213–14[35] 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge. Renumbered 770–771 in 1957 all-India scheme
1489–149119263Ceylon Government RailwayB84-6-0229–231[36] 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) gauge.
1497–150419278South Indian RailwayK0-6-0K58–K65[37] 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) gauge. Renumbered 37059–37066 in all-India scheme
1525–152619272Barsi Light RailwayF2-8-229–30[34] 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge. Renumbered 717–718 in 1957 all-India scheme
1531–153219282North Western Railway (India)ZE2-8-2190–191[38] 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge. Renumbered 221–222; renumbered 93–94 in all-India scheme
1533–153619284Nigerian Railways4-6-2411–4143 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge.
1539–154319285Barsi Light RailwayG4-6-431–35[34] 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge. Renumbered 728–732 in 1957 all-India scheme
1550–155419285Eastern Bengal RailwayYB4-6-2409–4131,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) gauge. To Assam Bengal Railway 251–255 in 1936
1563–156619294Bengal Nagpur RailwayRD2-6-207–010[27] 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge, for Raipur–Dhamtari line; renumbered 687–690 in 1957 all-India scheme
1574–157619293Barsi Light RailwayF2-8-236–38[34] 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge. Renumbered 719–721 in 1957 all-India scheme
1586–158719302Barsi Light RailwayG4-6-44–5[34] 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge. Renumbered 725–726 in 1957 all-India scheme
19344Palestine RailwayN0-6-0T
19354Palestine RailwayN0-6-0T
1649–165019382South Indian RailwayST2-6-4TST1–ST2[39] 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) gauge. Renumbered 37366–37367 in all-India scheme
1651–165219382Palestine RailwayN0-6-0T

References

  1. ↑ Cantrell (2005) pp=7–8
  2. ↑ Musson & Robinson 1969, pp. 491–495.
  3. ↑ Cantrell (2005) Appendix: Locomotives produced at the Bridgewater Foundry 1838–1938
  4. ↑ Bradley (1965) p.26.
  5. ↑ Cantrell (2005) Appendix: Locomotives produced at the Bridgewater Foundry 1838–1938
  6. ↑ Cantrell (2005) pp.95
  7. ↑ Cantrell (2005) pp.105
  8. 1 2 Cotterell 1984, p. 55.
  9. ↑ Cantrell (2005) pp.105
  10. ↑ Cantrell (2005) Appendix: Locomotives produced at the Bridgewater Foundry 1838–1938
  11. ↑ Cantrell (2005) pp.107
  12. ↑ Cantrell 2005, p. 107.
  13. ↑ Cantrell (2005) pp.107
  14. 1 2 Reed 1952, p. B14.
  15. ↑ Reed 1952, p. B17.
  16. ↑ Baxter 2012, p. 42.
  17. ↑ Hughes 1990, p. 32.
  18. ↑ Baxter 1982, p. 40.
  19. ↑ Baxter 1984, p. 222.
  20. ↑ Baxter 1984, p. 247.
  21. ↑ Baxter 1984, p. 221.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Rowledge 1993, p. 17.
  23. 1 2 Hughes 1990, p. 48.
  24. 1 2 Hughes 1990, p. 45.
  25. ↑ Hughes 1990, p. 34.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 Hughes 1990, p. 100.
  27. 1 2 3 4 Hughes 1994, p. 19.
  28. 1 2 Hughes 1990, p. 42.
  29. ↑ Holland 1972, p. 32.
  30. ↑ Davies 2001, p. 88.
  31. 1 2 Boddy et al. 1983, p. 47.
  32. ↑ Rowledge 1975, p. 4.
  33. ↑ Rowledge 1975, p. 33.
  34. 1 2 3 4 5 Hughes 1994, p. 15.
  35. ↑ Hughes 1994, p. 45.
  36. ↑ Hughes 1990, p. 94.
  37. ↑ Hughes 1990, p. 91.
  38. ↑ Hughes 1994, p. 69.
  39. ↑ Hughes 1992, p. 98.

Bibliography

  • Baxter, Bertram (1982). Baxter, David, ed. British Locomotive Catalogue 1825–1923, Volume 3A: Midland Railway and its constituent companies. Ashbourne, Derbyshire: Moorland Publishing Company.
  • Baxter, Bertram (1984). Baxter, David, ed. British Locomotive Catalogue 1825–1923, Volume 4: Scottish and remaining English Companies in the LMS Group. Ashbourne, Derbyshire: Moorland Publishing Company.
  • Baxter, Bertram (2012). Baxter, David; Mitchell, Peter, eds. British Locomotive Catalogue 1825–1923, Volume 6: Great Eastern Railway, North British Railway, Great North of Scotland Railway, Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway, remaining companies in the LNER group. Southampton: Kestrel Railway Books. ISBN 978-1-905505-26-5.
  • Boddy, M. G.; Brown, W. A.; Neve, E.; Yeadon, W. B. (November 1983). Fry, E. V., ed. Locomotives of the L.N.E.R., Part 6B: Tender Engines—Classes O1 to P2. Kenilworth: RCTS. ISBN 0-901115-54-1.
  • Cantrell, John. Nasmyth, Wilson & Co.: Patricroft Locomotive Builders. Stroud: Tempus Publishing Limited. ISBN 0-7524-3465-9.
  • Bradley, D.L. (1965). Locomotives of the London and South Western Railway. Railway Correspondence and Travel Society.
  • Cotterell, Paul (1984). The Railways of Palestine and Israel. Abingdon: Tourret Publishing. ISBN 0-905878-04-3.
  • Davies, John (August 2001). Chemins de fer de l'État Locomotive List 1878–1938. Woodbridge, Queensland: Dr. John Davies. ISBN 0-7316-8442-7.
  • Hughes, Hugh (1990). Indian Locomotives: Part 1 – Broad Gauge 1851–1940. Harrow, Middlesex: The Continental Railway Circle. ISBN 0-9503469-8-5.
  • Hughes, Hugh (1992). Indian Locomotives: Part 2 – Metre Gauge 1872–1940. Harrow, Middlesex: The Continental Railway Circle. ISBN 0-9503469-9-3.
  • Hughes, Hugh (1994). Indian Locomotives: Part 3 – Narrow Gauge 1863–1940. Harrow, Middlesex: The Continental Railway Circle. ISBN 0-9521655-0-3.
  • Holland, D. F. (1972). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways. 2: 1910-1955 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, Devon: David & Charles. ISBN 978-0-7153-5427-8.
  • Lowe, J. W. (1989). British Steam Locomotive Builders. Guild Publishing.
  • Musson, Albert Edward; Robinson, Eric (1969). Science and technology in the Industrial Revolution. Manchester University Press. p. 491. ISBN 978-0-7190-0370-7.
  • Reed, P. J. T. (February 1953). White, D. E., ed. The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway, Part 2: Broad Gauge. Kenilworth: RCTS. ISBN 0-901115-32-0.
  • Rowledge, J.W.P. (1975). Engines of the LMS built 1923–51. Oxford: Oxford Publishing Company. ISBN 0-902888-59-5.
  • Rowledge, J. W. P. (1993). Irish Steam Locomotive Register. Stockport, Merseyside: Irish Traction Group. ISBN 0-947773-33-9.
  • Smiles, Samuel (1912). James Nasmyth Engineer: An Autobiography. John Murray. Retrieved 2009-11-14.

Further reading

  • Dickinson, R. (1956). "James Nasmyth and the Liverpool Iron Trade" (PDF). Transactions of the Lancashire and Cheshire Historical Society. 108: 83–104.
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