Northumbrian (locomotive)
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Northumbrian as depicted in the October 16, 1830 issue of Mechanics' Magazine | |||||||||||||||||
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Northumbrian was an early steam locomotive built by Robert Stephenson in 1830 and used at the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway (L&M).[1] It was the eighth of Stephenson's nine 0-2-2 locomotives in the style of Rocket, but it introduced several innovations, which were also included Majestic, the last of the class.[2]
Design
Northumbrian was the first 'locomotive' boiler that had both the firebox in a water jacket at one end and smokebox to collect ashes at the other.[1] Dawson describes it as the first of a "modern" (steam locomotive) boiler while Hollingsworth notes virtually all successors followed this layout.[1][3] Other features included plate frames, a proper tender, and the cylinders set at a relatively low angle to the horizontal, giving smoother running.[1]
Northumbrian suffered from a number of poor design aspects. As the next iteration of locomotive development, one notable issue was while weight had increased from Rocket's 4 tons to over 7 tons, most of it was on the trailing wheels instead of the drivers. This led to adhesion problems and was partly why successor locomotive Planet was built as a 2-2-0 in the same year.[1][4]
Service
Northumbrian was handed over on 31 July 1830 at the price of £700, the cost being justified by more extensive use of copper and improved running characteristics.[3] At the official opening ceremony of the L&M on 15 September 1830 with eight trains Northumbrian headed the first listed train with the Duke of Wellington as a prestige passenger and George Stephenson on the footplate.[5] Northumbian was offered to the London and Birmingham Railway for £450 in 1836, this was refused and it is possible the locomotive was broken up.[6]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Hollingsworth 2001, p. 8.
- ^ Hollingsworth 2001, p. 11.
- ^ a b Dawson 2019, p. 15.
- ^ Hollingsworth 2001, p. 12.
- ^ Thomas 1980, pp. 84–85, 243.
- ^ Thomas 1980, p. 244.
- Dawson, Anthony (2019). Locomotives of the Victorian Railway — The Early Days of Steam. Stroud: Amberley. ISBN 9781445677613. OCLC 1104650699.
- Hollingsworth, Brian (2001). The Illustrated Directory of Trains of the World. Greenwich Editions. ISBN 9780862884109. OCLC 656146010. OL 30114962M.
- Thomas, R. H. G. (1980). The Liverpool & Manchester Railway. London: Batsford. ISBN 0-7134-0537-6. OCLC 872376376.