Stephenson Locomotive Society

Caledonian Railway centenary (1847-1947). London, SLS, 1947. 75pp. + 2 folding plates
Edited by L.R. Tomsett and includes photograph of No. 15264 built in 1925 for LMS at St. Albans on  30 July 1927 taken by Tomsett. Ottley 5635 failed to note Tomsett as editor: only noted on page 4
A Centenary celebration, 1909-2009. 87pp.
Pamphlet format: includes leading characters in its formation and development; its preservation of Stroudley 0-4-2 Gladstone; the Society's Library, the Journal, Railtours
The Glasgow and South Western Railway., 1850-1923. London, 1950. 60pp. + plates.
Locomotives of the North British Railway 1846-1882. 1970, 106pp.
Virtually only source of information about the early locomotive superintendents Thornton, William Smith and Petre.
"Between 1846 and 1852 the North British Railway built up its initial stock of seventy-one locomotives. All except one came from R.&W. Hawthorn of Newcastle, and for the first nine years they were in the care of three locomotive superintendents. Robert Thornton was appointed in January, 1846, and was responsible for establishing the company's workshops at St Margarets and breaking in the locomotive stud to its duties. He held the post for five years - years that became progressively more difficult as the engines aged and their mechanical short- comings became more apparent. The locomotive department was starved of money, and Thornton never could get enough to maintain the engines in decent working order. He resigned after an altercation with the general manager. But on the same day the manager sent him a private letter thanking him for all he had done for the North British in very difficult circumstances. Under Thornton's successor, William Smith, the state of the stock grew steadily worse, and in a little over two years Smith was sacked for incompetence and insubordination. The third superintendent, the Hon. Edmund George Petre, was a young man of noble birth and little ability. Under his superintendency the locomotive situation went from bad to desperate. The directors used a report that Petre had been seen drunk on duty as an excuse to get rid of him. By that time more than a quarter of the stock was out of traffic and most of the remainder was unreliable. The chairman was obliged to inform his share- holders that, because of incompetence in the locomotive department, the railway was on the verge of complete paralysis."
Railway progress, 1909-1959. v.1. London, S.L.S., [1960]. [viii], 139 pp. + 24 plates. 65 illus., 2 tables.
A review of locomotive development: mostly British, mainly steam.
Railway progress, 1909-1959. v.2. London, S.L.S., [1960]. 141-224pp.
Numbered in sequence with Volume 1. Contents: Railway Signalling Development: Overseas Steam Locomotives (Part 2): American Diesel Development; Diesel Traction in Ireland; Rolling Stock; British Pullman Car Services; Train Services: Railway Operating; Railway Steamers; Road Motor Services; Development of Locomotive Superheating; The Development of Permanent Way. Very damning review by HS in Rly Wld, 1964, 25, 118 who complained of many errors..

The Society also produces a Journal, some of which was included in Steam Locomotive Development: more needs to be added.

2020-12-10
Home page