Midland Counties Railway Locomotives Explained

In its short life, the Midland Counties Railway bought nearly fifty steam locomotives from a number of manufacturers. Initially, outside-cylindered engines were ordered because of the frequency of crank axle breakage with inside cylinders. However, one of the sub-committee delegated to order the motive power, Theodore Rathbone, was an admirer of the Bury engines used on the London and Birmingham Railway, and all further orders were for inside-cylindered locos. The initial delivery of engines had 11-inch cylinders, but after being found to be short of power, further orders were for engines with 13-inch cylinders.

Builders

Butterley Company

Butterley Company, Derbyshire

(renamed Bee in 1841)

Ariel hauled one of the inaugural trains from Nottingham to Derby, following Sunbeam. Nevertheless, the Butterley locos would not appear to have been satisfactory, since the railway refused to pay for them until the end of 1841.

Jones, Turner and Evans

Jones, Turner and Evans, Newton-le-Willows

Four coupled:

Stark and Fulton

Stark and Fulton, Glasgow

Edward Bury and Company

Edward Bury and Company, Liverpool

Leopard hauled the inaugural train from Nottingham to Leicester

Four Coupled

Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company

Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company, Patricroft

(presumably bought as a freight engine)

William Fairbairn & Sons

William Fairbairn & Sons, Liverpool

(renamed Shark in 1842/3)

Benjamin Hick and Sons

Benjamin Hick and Sons, Bolton

Contractors locomotives

Vivid, which opened the line from Leicester to Rugby, was a contractor's locomotive.

References

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