British Electric Vehicles (BEV) of Churchtown, Southport, Lancashire, built industrial vehicles including both small electrically motorised trolleys for carrying raw materials and products around factories and electric locomotives desirable for use underground and in flammable environments.
British Electric Vehicles Ltd was formed in 1905 with works in Churchtwon, Southport. The business used patented controllers made by Wingrove & Rogers Ltd of Kirkby, Liverpool, and in 1926 the business was purchased by Wingrove & Rogers who continued to use the B.E.V trademark. In the early 1990s Wingrove & Rogers was purchased by Pikrose Group in Oldham Lancashire, working until 2005 under the Ferranti Engineering company until the mining electric vehicles business was purchased in mid-2005 by a Peruvian industrial group that acquired the manufacturing engineering and licensed the BEV brand. Now the mining electric locomotives in battery and trolley types are being manufactured in the Serminsa Group facilities.
At the British Empire exhibition in 1924, B.E.V. exhibited three of their products to illustrate their range and give examples of where they are used.[1] These were as follows :
The B.E.V. battery rail locomotive (as described in 1920) was arranged with the battery boxes at either end and the controls in the middle. The wheelbase was 2ft 4in, and the length overall was 6 foot. Brakes applied to all 4 wheels, with the actuating linkage between the wheels. The motors were of specialised design for traction purposes with double wound fields "so that serial parallel control is arranged". The batteries consisted of 24 cells, size I.M.V. 6, with a capacity of 193 amp-hours. The cells were mounted in 4 hardwood boxes (pictures of later models in service show metal battery boxes). The range was 20 to 25 miles, with the rated speed being 6 mph unloaded and 5 mph loaded.[2]
Preserved Locomotives
There are currently 4 locomotives built by BEV known to be preserved. All have a very similar design, with cast iron frames, and the wheels driven from a single, central motor through reduction gearing to each axle. The cast side frames are of very similar designs, with the end castings being different to suit different gauges.
| 308 | 4wBE | 1921 | 2ft (610mm) | Llechwedd Slate Cavern | |
| 323 | 4wBE | 1921 | 2ft (610mm) | Alan Keef Ltd, Herefordshire | |
| 551 | 4wBE | 1924 | 18" (450mm) | Private address, Derby | |
| 640 | 4wOHL | 1926 | 2ft (610mm) | West Lancashire Light Railway |