| Matthew Stirling | |
| Nationality: | Scottish |
| Citizenship: | United Kingdom |
| Birth Date: | 27 November 1856 |
| Birth Place: | Kilmarnock, Scotland |
| Death Place: | Kingston upon Hull, England |
| Parents: | Patrick Stirling |
| Discipline: | Locomotive engineer |
| Employer: | Hull & Barnsley Railway |
Matthew Stirling (1856–1931) was Locomotive Superintendent of the Hull & Barnsley Railway (H&BR). Matthew Stirling was born in Kilmarnock on 27 November 1856. He was the son of Patrick Stirling, the nephew of James Stirling, and grandson of Robert Stirling – all of whom were also famous mechanical engineers.
Matthew was appointed Locomotive Superintendent of the H&BR on 13 May 1885. His first locomotive design was the H&BR Class B 0-6-0 tender locomotive (1889). This later became LNER Class J23. A larger and more modern version of the Class B was developed later. This was designated H&BR Class L, and later became LNER Class J28. Matthew Stirling's locomotive designs often incorporated the design traditions established by his father, including domeless boilers. His powerful H&BR Class A (LNER Class Q10) 0-8-0 freight locomotives were heavily used during World War I.
| H&BR class | LNER class | Wheels | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | J23[1] | 0-6-0 | 1889 | |
| G2 | J80[2] | 0-6-0T | 1892 | |
| F2 | N12[3] | 0-6-2T | 1901 | |
| G3 | J75[4] | 0-6-0T | 1901 | |
| A | Q10[5] | 0-8-0 | 1907 | |
| J | D24[6] | 4-4-0 | 1910 | |
| L | J28[7] | 0-6-0 | 1911 | |
| F3 | N13[8] | 0-6-2T | 1913 |
The LNER Class N13s survived into the British Railways era and the last locomotive, No. 69114, was withdrawn in 1956.
He retired in 1922 when the H&BR was taken over by the North Eastern Railway (NER). Stirling died on 5 October 1931 in Hull, aged 75.