James Anderson (engineer)
Encyclopedia
James Edward Anderson, CBE (3 April 1871 – 15 January 1945) was a mechanical engineer of the Midland Railway
and later the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
and had a great influence on the latter's adoption of the former's unwise locomotive policies.
(GNoSR). He worked for Sharp Stewart and Company, Dübs and Company
and the Glasgow and South Western Railway
(GSWR), before becoming Assistant Chief Draughtsmant of Robert Stephenson Ltd
of Darlington
.
In April 1903, Anderson moved to the Midland Railway
(MR) at Derby
as a draughtsman. He replaced J.W. Smith when Smith left for Great Central Railway
, and was also given responsibility for the Locomotive Works in the absence of Henry Fowler
.
During Anderson's time at Derby, he helped design the 990 Class
4-4-0
. Superheating
was introduced on the Class 4F
0-6-0
and to the rebuilt Class 2P 4-4-0. A large 2-8-0 for the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway
and the Lickey Banker
0-10-0
for the Lickey Incline
. These departed from the Midland's small engine policy.
Anderson was acting Chief Mechanical Engineer between 1915 and 1919 when Fowler was away on war work. Anderson himself was awarded a CBE in March 1920 for his own war work.
The Midland was grouped into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
in 1923. On locomotive affairs, Anderson and Fowler were able to influence the LMS to follow Midland practice rather than that of the London and North Western Railway
(LNWR). This included the use of standard small axle bearings and short travel valves that resulted in hot axle boxes and inefficiency respectively.
Andeson retired in 1932 to Ayr
. A year later, William Stanier
arrived from the Great Western Railway
and started to reform things. Anderson died in 1945.
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
and later the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
and had a great influence on the latter's adoption of the former's unwise locomotive policies.
Biography
Born in 1871, Anderson served an apprenticeship with the Great North of Scotland RailwayGreat North of Scotland Railway
The Great North of Scotland Railway was one of the smaller Scottish railways before the grouping, operating in the far north-east of the country. It was formed in 1845 and received its Parliamentary approval on June 26, 1846, following over two years of local meetings...
(GNoSR). He worked for Sharp Stewart and Company, Dübs and Company
Dûbs and Company
Dübs & Co. was a locomotive works in Glasgow, Scotland, founded by Henry Dübs in 1863 and based at the Queens Park Works in Polmadie. In 1903 it became part of the North British Locomotive Company.-Preserved locomotives:...
and the Glasgow and South Western Railway
Glasgow and South Western Railway
The Glasgow and South Western Railway , one of the pre-grouping railway companies, served a triangular area of south-west Scotland, between Glasgow, Stranraer and Carlisle...
(GSWR), before becoming Assistant Chief Draughtsmant of Robert Stephenson Ltd
Robert Stephenson and Company
Robert Stephenson and Company was a locomotive manufacturing company founded in 1823. It was the first company set up specifically to build railway engines.- Foundation and early success :...
of Darlington
Darlington
Darlington is a market town in the Borough of Darlington, part of the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It lies on the small River Skerne, a tributary of the River Tees, not far from the main river. It is the main population centre in the borough, with a population of 97,838 as of 2001...
.
In April 1903, Anderson moved to the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
(MR) at Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
as a draughtsman. He replaced J.W. Smith when Smith left for Great Central Railway
Great Central Railway
The Great Central Railway was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension . On 1 January 1923, it was grouped into the London and North Eastern...
, and was also given responsibility for the Locomotive Works in the absence of Henry Fowler
Henry Fowler (engineer)
Sir Henry Fowler, KBE was a Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Midland Railway and subsequently the London, Midland and Scottish Railway.- Biography :...
.
During Anderson's time at Derby, he helped design the 990 Class
Midland Railway 990 Class
The Midland Railway 990 class was a class of 4-4-0 steam locomotive. Ten were built in 1908–1909 with simple expansion to compare with the 1000 class compounds, with which they shared many features. Initially saturated, they were later superheated. They were withdrawn between 1925 and 1928. None...
4-4-0
4-4-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels...
. Superheating
Superheating
In physics, superheating is the phenomenon in which a liquid is heated to a temperature higher than its boiling point, without boiling...
was introduced on the Class 4F
Midland Railway 3835 Class
The Midland Railway 3835 Class is a class of 0-6-0 steam locomotive designed for freight work. The first two were introduced in 1911 by Henry Fowler. After the grouping in 1923 they continued to be built up to 1941 by the LMS as the LMS Fowler 4F....
0-6-0
0-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...
and to the rebuilt Class 2P 4-4-0. A large 2-8-0 for the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway
S&DJR 7F 2-8-0
The Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway 7F 2-8-0 is a class of steam locomotive designed for hauling heavy coal and goods trains. Eleven were built in two batches in 1914 and 1925, and were used until withdrawn between 1959 and 1964...
and the Lickey Banker
MR 0-10-0 Lickey Banker
In 1919, the Midland Railway built a single 0-10-0 steam locomotive, No 2290 . It was designed by James Clayton for banking duties on the Lickey Incline in Worcestershire , England...
0-10-0
0-10-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-10-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, ten powered and coupled driving wheels on five axles, and no trailing wheels...
for the Lickey Incline
Lickey Incline
The Lickey Incline is the steepest sustained main-line railway incline in Great Britain and is situated south of Birmingham, in England. The climb is a gradient of 1-in-37.7 for a continuous distance of two miles ....
. These departed from the Midland's small engine policy.
Anderson was acting Chief Mechanical Engineer between 1915 and 1919 when Fowler was away on war work. Anderson himself was awarded a CBE in March 1920 for his own war work.
The Midland was grouped into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
in 1923. On locomotive affairs, Anderson and Fowler were able to influence the LMS to follow Midland practice rather than that of the London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
(LNWR). This included the use of standard small axle bearings and short travel valves that resulted in hot axle boxes and inefficiency respectively.
Andeson retired in 1932 to Ayr
Ayr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
. A year later, William Stanier
William Stanier
Sir William Arthur Stanier, FRS was Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway.- Biography :...
arrived from the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
and started to reform things. Anderson died in 1945.
External links
- Sir Henry Fowler at www.steamindex.com