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Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns Ltd (RSH) was a locomotive builder with works in North East England.

History

Builders plate from NZGR EW 1805 locomotive

The company was formed in September 1937,[1] when Darlington based Robert Stephenson and Company took over the locomotive building department of Hawthorn Leslie and Company, which was based in Newcastle upon Tyne.[2] The goodwill of Leeds locomotive builders Kitson & Co. was obtained in 1938.

RSH locomotive numbering began at 6939, this being the first number following the sum total of locomotives built by Robert Stephenson & Co. and Hawthorn Leslie, (6938).

RSH became part of English Electric in 1955 and merged with GEC in 1968.[1]

Locomotive building at the Newcastle upon Tyne works ended in 1961 and at Darlington in 1964.

Diesel locomotives

RSH entered the diesel locomotive market in November 1937 with a "direct reversing" locomotive fitted with a Crossley two-stroke engine. There was no reversing gearbox and the diesel engine itself was reversible, as in marine practice. When starting, in either direction, power was supplied by compressed air until the engine fired.[3] One of these locomotives, Beryl (RSH 7697/1953), is preserved at the Tanfield Railway. After the 1955 modernisation plan of British Railways RSH responded by building the following class of diesel locomotives some of which are preserved (Including D306 & D318).

They also built the following for Australia.

Preservation

Location Country Name Works Number Built Arrangement Gauge Photo and notes
Egyptian National Railways Museum, Cairo, Egypt EG ESR No. 986 1866 0-6-0

On display

Kaya Railway, SL Plaza, Kaya County, Kyoto, Japan JP No. 2[4] 2105 1873 2-4-0T 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Glenbrook Vintage Railway, Ferrymead Heritage Park, Glenbrook, NZ NZ No. F.233[5] 2593 1885 0-6-0ST 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Ulster Folk and Transport Museum NI 2 Kathleen 2613 1887 4-4-0T 3 ft (914 mm)

Static Display

New Jersey Museum of Transportation USA 3 Lady Edith 2614 1887 4-4-0T 3 ft (914 mm)

Static Display

Ulster Folk and Transport Museum NI LP&HC no. 1 2738 1891 0-6-0ST 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)

Static Display

Railway Museum (Western Australia) AUS WAGR No. 201 2886 1898 4-4-4T

On display

Valley Heights Rail Museum AUS Commonwealth Portland Cement Co No. 2 2994 1899 0-6-0ST

Operational, Nicknamed "Stevo"

Bressingham Steam Museum GB LT&SR No. 80 Thundersley 3366 1909 4-4-2T 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

On display, on loan from the National Railway museum.

Belen de Escobar, Argentina AR FCGM No. 907 3512 1912 2-8-2T

On display

Mid-Hants Railway GB S&DJR No. 88 3894 1925 2-8-0 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Out of Service

North Norfolk Railway GB S&DJR No. 89 3895 1925 2-8-0 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Operational

Museum of Science and Industry USA Rocket 4072 1931 0-2-2 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Replica, on display

Darlington Railway Preservation Society GB No. 39 6947 1938 0-6-0T 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) On display
Beamish Museum GB Roker 7006 1940 0-4-0CT 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

On static display awaiting overhaul

Tanfield Railway GB Hendon 7007 1940 0-4-0CT 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Awaiting restoration
East Anglian Railway Museum GB Pen Green (now Thomas) 7031 1941 0-6-0ST (now with side tanks also) 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Operational, converted into a Thomas the Tank Engine replica in March 2008, boiler ticket expires in 2027

Tanfield Railway GB Lysaghts 7035 1940 0-6-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Awaiting restoration
Chatham Historic Dockyard GB Ajax 7042 1941 0-4-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Operational, worked for the Ministry of Defence

Gwili Railway GB Olwen 7058 1942 0-4-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Undergoing overhaul

Foxfield Light Railway GB Eustace Forth 7063 1942 0-4-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Operational, boiler ticket expires in 2027

Keighley and Worth Valley Railway GB Southwick 7069 1942 0-4-0CT 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Stored awaiting overhaul
Bressingham Steam Museum GB Millfield 7070 1942 0-4-0CT 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Static display.

Tanfield Railway GB 7078 1944 Bo-Bo 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Built for 500v DC overhead system at Kearsley Power Station
Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway GB Norman 7086 1943 0-6-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Undergoing overhaul; built as Austerity WD 75050
Strathspey Railway GB 7097 1943 0-6-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Awaiting overhaul; built as Austerity WD 75061

Tanfield Railway GB NCB No. 49 7098 1943 0-6-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Operational (Returned to traffic July 2018, Boiler tickets expires 2028); built as Austerity WD 75062

Peak Rail GB Royal Pioneer 7136 1944 0-6-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Undergoing overhaul, built as Austerity WD 75186

Dean Forest Railway GB No. 152 Rennes 7139 1944 0-6-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Operational, painted in Longmoor Military Railway livery

Avon Valley Railway GB 7151 1944 0-6-0T 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Stored awaiting overhaul.

Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway GB 71515 Mechanical Navvy 7169 1945 0-6-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Withdrawn Sept. 2018; built as Austerity WD 71515

Gwili Railway GB Welsh Guardsman 7170 1944 0-6-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Operational following a return to service in 2014; built as Austerity WD 71516
Midland Railway - Butterley GB George 7214 1945 0-4-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Undergoing restoration
Colne Valley Railway GB Doug Tottman 7284 1945 Bo-Bo 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Built for Kearsley Power Station, rebuilt as battery electric for Heysham Power Station

Tyseley Locomotive Works GB Fred 7289 1945 0-6-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Undergoing overhaul; built as Austerity WD 71480
National Coal Mining Museum GB Progress 7298 1946 0-6-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Static display
Elsecar Railway GB Birkenhead 7386 1948 0-4-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Undergoing overhaul

Tanfield Railway GB Sir Cecil A. Cochrane 7409 1948 0-4-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Operational

Private site GB Norwood 7412 1948 0-6-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Undergoing restoration off site
Museum of Science and Industry (Manchester) GB Agecroft No. 1 7416 1948 0-4-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Operational

Ribble Steam Railway GB Agecroft No. 2 7485 1947 0-4-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

On static display awaiting overhaul

Mainline Steam Heritage Trust, Plimmerton, NZ NZ EW 1805 7491 1951 Bo-Bo-Bo 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)

New Zealand EW class electric

Canterbury Railway Society, Ferrymead Heritage Park, Christchuch, NZ NZ EW 1806 7492 1951 Bo-Bo-Bo 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)

New Zealand EW class locomotive

Snibston Discovery Park GB Mars No. 2 7493 1948 0-4-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Awaiting restoration
Battlefield Line Railway GB Richard III 7537 1949 0-6-0T 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Stored out of use

Lincolnshire Wolds Railway GB Zebedee 7597 1949 0-6-0T 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Undergoing overhaul
East Somerset Railway GB Meteor 7609 1950 0-6-0T 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Undergoing restoration
Didcot Railway Centre GB Bonnie Prince Charlie 7644 1951 0-4-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

On static display awaiting overhaul. Used in title sequence of 1980s children's series The Saturday Banana.

Great Central Railway GB Nechells No. 4 7648 1951 0-6-0T 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Undergoing overhaul

Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway GB Beano 7661 1959 0-4-0 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Stored awaiting overhaul
Epping Ongar Railway[6] GB 56 7667 1950 0-6-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Stored awaiting overhaul

Spa Valley Railway GB Samson 7668 1950 0-6-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Restoration on hold
Colne Valley Railway GB Jupiter 7671 1951 0-6-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Built for the Corby Ironstone works. Undergoing overhaul

Spa Valley Railway GB Ugly 7673 1950 0-6-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Operational

Fulstow Steam Centre GB Fulstow 7680 1950 0-4-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Operational. Built for Leicester Power Station.
Whitwell and Reepham Railway GB Agecroft No. 3 7681 1951 0-4-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Undergoing overhaul
North Tyneside Steam Railway GB Meaford No.1 7683 1951 0-6-0T 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn No.1 on the crossover line
Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn No.1 on the crossover line

Static display awaiting restoration

Tanfield Railway GB Beryl 7697 1953 0-6-0DM 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Awaiting repair
Garw Valley GB 7705 7705 1952 0-4-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Undergoing restoration
La Grange Railroad Museum, La Grange, Kentucky USA Meaford No.2 (Flying Duchess) 7745 1952 0-6-0T 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Static display. Operated on the Boyne City Railroad in Michigan after being bought and transferred to the United States. After bankruptcy of Boone City RR, it transferred to the Tennessee Railway Museum in Chattanooga, then finally to a scrapyard in Louisville, KY, when it was saved from being destroyed and melted as scrap.

Tanfield Railway GB NCB No. 44 7760 1953 0-6-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Awaiting restoration

Epping Ongar Railway[7] GB Corby 7761 1954 0-6-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Stored awaiting overhaul

Tanfield Railway GB NCB No. 38 7763 1954 0-6-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Awaiting overhaul

Weardale Railway GB NCB No. 40 7765 1954 0-6-0T 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Undergoing overhaul
Tanfield Railway GB CEGB No. 21 7797 1954 0-4-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Awaiting overhaul

Tanfield Railway GB No. 47 7800 1954 0-6-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Awaiting restoration, ex Celynen South Power Station

Midland Railway - Butterley GB Castle Donington Power Station No. 1 7817 1954 0-4-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Undergoing overhaul

Yaxham GB Castle Donington Power Station No. 2 7818 1954 0-4-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Awaiting overhaul
Tanfield Railway GB NCB No. 16 7944 1957 0-6-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Awaiting restoration

Dales Countryside Museum GB 67345 7845 1955 0-6-0T 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

On display, built for CEGB Hams Hall Power Station

Ferryhill Railway Heritage Trust GB North Downs 7846 1955 0-6-0T 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Under restoration - Boiler rebuilt
Gwili Railway GB Moorbarrow 7849 1955 0-6-0ST 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

Undergoing overhaul

References

  1. ^ a b Longhorn, Danny (29 June 2023). "Alstom celebrates 200th Anniversary of the World's First Locomotive Works in Newcastle". RailBusinessDaily. Retrieved 13 March 2024. The company merged with Hawthorn Leslie to form Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns Ltd in 1937, which went on to become English Electric and merged with GEC in 1968. In 1989 GEC merged with Alstom.
  2. ^ "R and W Hawthorn, Leslie and Co Ltd".
  3. ^ Industrial Railway Record no. 169, June 2002, pp 146-158, ISSN 0537-5347
  4. ^ "Steam Locomotive". japaneserailwaysociety.com. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Steam Locomotive". gvr.org.nz. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Two new steam locomotives join the Epping Ongar Railway fleet". www.eorailway.co.uk. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Two new steam locomotives join the Epping Ongar Railway fleet". www.eorailway.co.uk. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
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