Bromsgrove Works
From Graces Guide
Bromsgrove Railway Works
- Established in 1841 at Aston Fields, near Bromsgrove as a maintenance facility for the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway. However, it was one of the first to actually build locomotives rather than simply maintaining those provided by other manufacturers.
- This came about when the railway hired James Edward McConnell following a series of accidents on the Lickey Incline. The first involved a demonstration locomotive by William Church, called, unfortunately "Surprise". Its experimental boiler blew up, killing the engine men, Thomas Scaife and Joseph Rutherford. Then a further boiler explosion killed William Creuze.
- McConnell carried out a number of innovations, culminating in a locomotive specifically built for the incline, the "Great Britain" reputed to be the first saddle tank. He continued to seek higher standards in railway engineering.
- In 1846 he met with George Stephenson and Archibald Slate at Bromsgrove. It was at this meeting that the idea of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers came about.
- The works built very few locomotives since, after the merger with Midland Railway, such work was concentrated at Derby. However it became a well-respected wagon works, using components from Derby, apart from laminated springs which it fabricated itself.
- It became part of the LMS and during World War II the Works Manager initiated a scheme for recovering timber and metal fittings for re-use as spares.
- After nationalisation in 1949 it remained busy with one of the highest productivity rates
- Following a reorganisation of railway workshops, it closed in 1964, with the work being transferred to Derby.
Sources of Information
- [1] Wikipedia