Bowesfield Works
Encyclopedia
Bowesfield Works was a railway locomotive manufacturing plant in Stockton-on-Tees
. The works was operated by a joint venture company called Metropolitan Vickers-Beyer Peacock from 1949 until 1960.
and Beyer, Peacock & Co. formed a joint venture company in November 1949 to design and manufacture diesel, electric and gas turbine locomotives. Because Beyer, Peacock’s Gorton works was still busy producing steam locomotives, an alternative site for the new locomotives to be built had to be found. A former Government built factory at Yarm Road, Stockton-on-Tees
, on which Metrovicks had acquired a lease in 1947, was chosen as the location. The factory which had been built during World War II
, was almost brand new, and covered an area of around 95000 square feet (8,825.8 m²), later extended to over 125000 square feet (11,612.9 m²) by Metrovicks. The works had its own railway siding running from Bowesfield Junction to the north east of the works. Initially the factory was used by Metrovicks for steel fabrication work before locomotive manufacture began in 1949.
. They were 1072 hp, Bo-Bo
, gauge locomotives. This was followed by another order for ten similar locomotives for Rede de Viação Paraná-Santa Catarina, Brazil.
electric locomotives for New South Wales Railways in Australia
, along with the forty-eight WAGR X class
diesel electric locomotives built for Western Australian Government Railways
, during 1953–56.
diesel electrics during 1958-59, and the experimental 25kV AC locomotive E1000
which was built by converting the gas turbine locomotive E18100
. Work commenced in January 1958 when E18100 was brought to Bowesfield Works from storage at Dukinfield Works. The conversion of E18100 involved the removal of the gas turbine
unit, generator and the middle traction motor from each bogie, which changed the locomotive from a Co-Co to an A1A-A1A wheel arrangement. The necessary electrical equipment such as the transformer
, mercury arc rectifiers and pantograph
etc. was installed, with the work completed by October 1958.
during 1959.
, gauge locomotives for South African Railways and Harbours during 1958–60.
company, a manufacturer of polythene films, which is now part of the British Polythene Industries
group. The factory has since closed and in 2011 the site is being redeveloped for housing.
Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees is a market town in north east England. It is the major settlement in the unitary authority and borough of Stockton-on-Tees. For ceremonial purposes, the borough is split between County Durham and North Yorkshire as it also incorporates a number of smaller towns including...
. The works was operated by a joint venture company called Metropolitan Vickers-Beyer Peacock from 1949 until 1960.
Works history
Metropolitan-VickersMetropolitan-Vickers
Metropolitan-Vickers, Metrovick, or Metrovicks, was a British heavy electrical engineering company of the early-to-mid 20th century formerly known as British Westinghouse. Highly diversified, they were particularly well known for their industrial electrical equipment such as generators, steam...
and Beyer, Peacock & Co. formed a joint venture company in November 1949 to design and manufacture diesel, electric and gas turbine locomotives. Because Beyer, Peacock’s Gorton works was still busy producing steam locomotives, an alternative site for the new locomotives to be built had to be found. A former Government built factory at Yarm Road, Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees is a market town in north east England. It is the major settlement in the unitary authority and borough of Stockton-on-Tees. For ceremonial purposes, the borough is split between County Durham and North Yorkshire as it also incorporates a number of smaller towns including...
, on which Metrovicks had acquired a lease in 1947, was chosen as the location. The factory which had been built during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, was almost brand new, and covered an area of around 95000 square feet (8,825.8 m²), later extended to over 125000 square feet (11,612.9 m²) by Metrovicks. The works had its own railway siding running from Bowesfield Junction to the north east of the works. Initially the factory was used by Metrovicks for steel fabrication work before locomotive manufacture began in 1949.
Brazil
The first locomotives built at the works were fourteen electric locomotives for the Rede Mineira de Viação railway company of BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. They were 1072 hp, Bo-Bo
Bo-Bo
A Bo-Bo or Bo′Bo′ is a locomotive with two independent four-wheeled bogies with all axles powered by individual traction motors...
, gauge locomotives. This was followed by another order for ten similar locomotives for Rede de Viação Paraná-Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Australia
In 1954–55, the works built forty New South Wales 46 classNew South Wales 46 class locomotive
The New South Wales 46 class are a class of mainline electric locomotive introduced onto the NSW rail system from 1956 under New South Wales Government Railways...
electric locomotives for New South Wales Railways in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, along with the forty-eight WAGR X class
WAGR X class
The WAGR X class was a class of 48 diesel electric locomotives built for Western Australian Government Railways by Beyer Peacock and Metropolitan Vickers, at Bowesfield Works, Stockton-on-Tees between 1954 and 1956.-The Crossley engine:...
diesel electric locomotives built for Western Australian Government Railways
Western Australian Government Railways
Western Australian Government Railways was most common name of the Western Australian government rail transport authority from 1890 to 1976. It is, in its current form, known as the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia....
, during 1953–56.
British Railways
The only locomotives built for British Railways at the works, were the twenty BR Class 28British Rail Class 28
The British Rail Class 28 diesel locomotives, or 'Metrovicks' as they were popularly known, were built as part of the British Railways 1955 Modernisation Plan. The locomotives had a Co-Bo wheel arrangement – unique in British Railways practice though not uncommon in other countries, notably Japan...
diesel electrics during 1958-59, and the experimental 25kV AC locomotive E1000
British Rail Class 80
Class 80 was the TOPS classification allocated by British Rail to the prototype 25 kV AC electric locomotive. This locomotive was built by Metropolitan-Vickers, initially as a prototype Gas turbine-electric locomotive, numbered 18100...
which was built by converting the gas turbine locomotive E18100
British Rail 18100
British Rail 18100 was a prototype main line gas turbine-electric locomotive built for British Railways in 1951 by Metropolitan-Vickers, Manchester. It had, however, been ordered by the Great Western Railway in the 1940s, but construction was delayed due to World War II...
. Work commenced in January 1958 when E18100 was brought to Bowesfield Works from storage at Dukinfield Works. The conversion of E18100 involved the removal of the gas turbine
Gas turbine
A gas turbine, also called a combustion turbine, is a type of internal combustion engine. It has an upstream rotating compressor coupled to a downstream turbine, and a combustion chamber in-between....
unit, generator and the middle traction motor from each bogie, which changed the locomotive from a Co-Co to an A1A-A1A wheel arrangement. The necessary electrical equipment such as the transformer
Transformer
A transformer is a device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another through inductively coupled conductors—the transformer's coils. A varying current in the first or primary winding creates a varying magnetic flux in the transformer's core and thus a varying magnetic field...
, mercury arc rectifiers and pantograph
Pantograph (rail)
A pantograph for rail lines is a hinged electric-rod device that collects electric current from overhead lines for electric trains or trams. The pantograph typically connects to a one-wire line, with the track acting as the ground wire...
etc. was installed, with the work completed by October 1958.
National Coal Board
In addition to building mainline locomotives, the works also constructed twelve Metropolitan-Vickers DBF type, gauge, battery powered under ground mining locomotives for the National Coal BoardNational Coal Board
The National Coal Board was the statutory corporation created to run the nationalised coal mining industry in the United Kingdom. Set up under the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946, it took over the mines on "vesting day", 1 January 1947...
during 1959.
South Africa
The last locomotives built at the works was a batch of one hundred SAR Class 5E1, Series 1 electric, 2280 hp, Bo-BoBo-Bo
A Bo-Bo or Bo′Bo′ is a locomotive with two independent four-wheeled bogies with all axles powered by individual traction motors...
, gauge locomotives for South African Railways and Harbours during 1958–60.
Closure
In December 1960, it was announced that the works was facing closure due to a lack of orders, and in February 1961, the Metropolitan-Vickers-Beyer Peacock joint company was placed into voluntary liquidation. The works was closed shortly afterwards and the workforce made redundant.The site today
The factory building was taken over by the VisqueenVisqueen
Visqueen is a power pop/punk rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 2001. It is named after a brand of polyethylene film that United States Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge once recommended as a defense against bioterrorism....
company, a manufacturer of polythene films, which is now part of the British Polythene Industries
British Polythene Industries
British Polythene Industries PLC is a leading supplier of polyethylene film products with manufacturing sites in the UK, Europe, China and North America....
group. The factory has since closed and in 2011 the site is being redeveloped for housing.
Reference sources
- Industrial Railway Record 148, March 1997, article by R.D. Darvill (ISSN 0537-5347)
- Electric Railways 1880-1990 by Michael C. Duffy (ISBN 0852968051)
- Evening Gazette Article http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2009/12/18/stockton-homes-plan-is-given-the-green-light-84229-25421451/