Brassey and Field

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Thomas Brassey and William Field were railway contractors and also brothers-in-law. Field worked as an agent for Brassey on some of his railway construction projects, including the Severn Valley Railway. They also worked in partnership as Brassey and Field on the construction of a number of UK railways in the 1850s and 1860s. In Worcestershire and Shropshire these included the Tenbury Railway, the Tenbury and Bewdley Railway, and the majority of the Wellington to Craven Arms Railway.[1]

Thomas Brassey[edit | edit source]

Thomas Brassey (b. 1805) was an English civil engineering contractor and manufacturer of building materials who was responsible for building much of the world's railways in the 19th century. By 1847, he had built around one-third of the railways in Britain, and by time of his death in December 1870 he had built one in every twenty miles of railway in the world.[2] These involved almost 100 different railway construction contracts in the UK, around 40 contracts for overseas railways, and 25 other civil engineering contracts,[3] with up to 100,000 men under his charge at a time.[4]

Brassey's career began as an apprentice surveyor on the new Shrewsbury to Holyhead Road (now the A5). At 21 he moved to Birkenhead where he met George Stephenson (then building the Liverpool and Manchester Railway) and became involved in civil engineering projects. He also came into contact with Joseph Harrison, a forwarding and shipping agent who believed in the future of railways. In 1831 Brassey married Joseph's second daughter Maria Farrington Harrison (b. 1810), who encouraged him to move into railway construction.[5]

Most of Brassey's contracts were carried out in partnership with other contractors, particularly with Peto and Betts. Detailed planning of the projects was done by engineers, including illustrious names such as Robert Stephenson, Joseph Locke, Isambard Kingdom Brunel and John Fowler. The day-to-day work was overseen by agents on site, who managed and controlled the activities of the subcontractors. Brassey's trusted agents (including Field) would often work on two or three contracts in a particular region at the same time.

Brassey's history is well documented (see Bibliography and External links below). In contrast, little appears to have been previously published in print or on-line about William Field.[note 1]

William Field[edit | edit source]

Family and places of residence[edit | edit source]

William Field was born on 27 August 1812 at Pipe Ridware near Rugeley, Staffordshire[6]. He married Christiana Harrison, Joseph Harrison's youngest daughter (b. 1819) on 30 August 1838 at St Oswald's in Chester.[7] They had three children:

  • Mary Ann Field (b. 1839, married Richard Oakley in 1859)
  • William Henry Field (b 1841)
  • Thomas Storar Field (b 1850)

The first 10-yearly British Census took place in June 1841. Field was living at Horse Fair, Rugeley with Christiana and their two infant children Mary Ann and William Henry. There was no information on his occupation. Subsequent censuses provide the following details:[8]

  • 1851 census: Field was staying in a hotel in Wyle Cope, St Julian, Shrewsbury, with Christiana and their son Thomas (then aged 8 months). Field described himself as 'Surgeon, not practising'. He was in Shrewsbury through his involvement with the construction of the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway (see below).
  • 1861 census: Field has not been traced in the 1861 census; Christiana was visiting her brother-in-law, George Salt, Rector in Chester.[9]
  • 1871 census: Field was living at Quarry Place, Shrewsbury (subsequently bought as a home for the Bishop of Shrewsbury) with his Grand-daughter Edith Oakley age 6. William described himself as 'Railway Contractor'. Christiana was visiting Thomas Field, then a naval architect aged 20 lodging in London.[9]
  • 1881 census: Field was at 13 Belmont, Atcham with his daughter Margaret (sic) Oakley age 41 and describing himself as a retired Lieutenant Colonel living at Shelton Oak.[9] Christiana was at the family home in Shelton Oak Priory.[10]
  • 1891 census: William was living at Shelton Oak with Mary Ann and three servants.

Christiana died on 6 Dec 1885 in Birkenhead. Probate was published in 1886 via her son Thomas Storar Field. William Field died on 27th June 1894 at Shelton Priory and was buried at St. James' Church, Pipe Ridware. His will left £37,892 in probate via Colonel William Henry Field - equivalent to £4.5M today.

Volunteer Corps[edit | edit source]

In 1859 the War Office, triggered by fears of a French invasion, authorized Lord Lieutenants to form local part-time Volunteer Corps. This led to an explosion of recruitment through 1860.[11] The Shrewsbury Chronicle of 8 February 1860 reported that "On Monday evening, 6 February 1860, a meeting was held at Shrewsbury General railway station with a view to secure a volunteer corps composed of railway officials and servants – Mr Patchett, the Railway Superintendent, was called upon to preside. It was unanimously agreed that a rifle corps be formed from amid their ranks and William Field, railway contractor, was chosen as their captain. The list for the railway contained the names of 78 volunteers and Mr Field, with great liberality, had offered to clothe 30 men." Subsequent press reports on construction of the SVR referred to "Captain Field". Some of the reported early journeys at the northern end of the SVR before the official opening were linked to trips in connection with manoeuvres by the Volunteer Corps.

The 9th (Shrewsbury) Rifle Volunteer Corps, as it began, was converted to the Shropshire Artillery Volunteers in July 1860.[12] Field was made Captain on 23rd July 1860, Major on 17th January 1868 and Lieutenant Colonel from 16th May 1869 (combined troop).[13]

Other business interests[edit | edit source]

A typical mid-1850s advertisement for William Field's merchant business

William Field was brought up in the medical profession, practising at Rugeley, and later as house surgeon at the North Stafford Infirmary for several years.[14] While Field was still House Surgeon at North Stafford Infirmary, he had also become a director of the Trent Valley Railway Company in 1844 (see below).

After becoming involved with railways, Field used his position at the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway to act as a 'Merchant' selling coal, lime, guano, cake and building materials at stations along the line, with John Scott his agent at Shrewsbury and William Webb agent at Hereford in the goods yards.[15] He is described as such in the County Directories at that time. Scott's partnership with Field was terminated in February 1857, with both subsequently acting as rival merchants along the line.[16] As further railways with which he was involved opened, Field also acted as merchant on the Leominster and Kington Railway,[17] and Tenbury Railway[18] Around 1863 the business was formalised as Field's Mercantile Company Limited. By the 14th AGM at Coleham in 1877, the business was still trading with Colonel Field as Chairman,[19] although following his death in 1894, the company was in Liquidation by 1895.[20]

In 1859 Brassey and Field were both named as Directors for the proposed floatation of the Cleveland Hotel Company in Shrewsbury.[21][22]

At a meeting in Birmingham on 10 September 1863, William Field (for Brassey and Field, contractors) was appointed a Director of the Patent File Company Ltd who were to establish a large manufacturing company in either Birmingham or Gloucester.[23]

In 1865 Field announced his intention to stand as MP for Stafford. describing his politics as 'Liberal Conservative';[24] he lost to the Liberal Michael Bass.

Early business association of Brassey and Field[edit | edit source]

William Field was appointed a Director of the Trent Valley Railway Company on Wednesday 20th March 1844 with the issue of the Prospectus.[25] In 1845 Brassey, Stephenson and MacKenzie were appointed as contractors for the 50-mile line between Rugby and Stafford which was completed in April 1847; Field was among the important guests at the opening ceremony.[26]. William Field's obituary suggested that he first came into contact with Thomas Brassey in a medical capacity while treating the men constructing the Trent Valley Railway.[14][note 2]

In September 1845, William Field of Rugeley was listed among the provisional committee of the proposed "Grand Trunk Railway"[note 3][27]

Charles Walker's book 'Thomas Brassey, Railway Builder' makes reference to the construction of 93 miles of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway in 1846 by Brassey and Field in partnership, with John Hawkshaw as Engineer and Miles Day as agent.[28] The L&Y was not incorporated until 1847 as an amalgamation of a number of existing railways comprising a network of some 600 miles;[29] Walker does not make it clear which part of the network was involved.

The Staffordshire Advertiser of 13 February 1847 reported the cutting of the first sod for the Norton Bridge Branch of the North Staffordshire Railway at Stone to be built by Brassey and Co, with William Field one of the important guests.

Walker suggests that Brassey was the sole contractor for the Crewe and Shrewsbury Railway which opened in 1858; various contemporary newspaper reports refer to the partnership of Brassey and Field.[30][31]

At the end of 1850, Brassey took out a contract (with no partner) for the construction of the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway (auth. 1846, completed 1853). Field moved to Shrewsbury in 1851 to work as Brassey's agent on the project.[32] The Hereford Times of 27 March 1852 reported Field as Director and Manager of the Line, organising a train for the opening through to Ludlow and presiding at the Dinner. In September 1853 the Dinmore Tunnel between Leominster and Hereford was completed, with the "keying in of the last brick" carried out by Christiana, wife of the 'general superintendent of the works' William Field.[33] The Hereford Journal of 18 February 1854 referred to a presentation and testimonial to William Field on 12th February with regard to his commitment to its construction and the men involved. After completion Brassey worked the line, initially at his own risk and later under lease, until the 1860s,[34] with Field having 'general superintendence' over the Railway on his behalf.[35][36]

In May 1851 Brassey and Field contracted to repair 150 Miles of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. During the work a locomotive derailed due to excessive speed, resulting in three fatalities including the engine driver.[37]

In 1853 Field tendered unsuccessfully for the construction of the Wellington and Severn Junction Railway.[38]

In 1854 the partnership of Brassey and Field were appointed contractors for the construction of the Leominster and Kington Railway (auth. 1854, completed 1857).[39] Each subscribed £5,000 towards the proposed capital of £66,000.[35][40] After completion the railay was initially operated under a six-year lease by both partners.[41]

In November 1857 Field spoke at the public meeting promoting the Hereford, Hay and Brecon Railway, being credited with his 'great experience in railway matters'.[42]

Between 1857 and 1862 Brassey and Field were partners in the construction of the Cannock Mineral Railway (auth 1857, completed 1859) with J Stephenson as agent,[43] and the Nuneaton and Hinckley Railway (auth 1859, completed 1862) also with J Stephenson as agent.[44] Field was a Director of both Companies.[45][46]

Brassey, Field, and the Severn Valley Railway[edit | edit source]

Main article: Construction of the Severn Valley Railway

Thomas Brassey was involved as a shareholder in the Severn Valley Railway from its inception in 1852. His associates Morton Peto and Edward Betts also invested in the Company, with the former also serving as a Director before resigning in order to tender for the contract for the Railway's construction. The contract with the partnership of Peto, Brassey and Betts was sealed on 26 May 1858,[47] and John Marshall's history refers to that partnership receiving the total proceeds of some £325,000 (including £240,000 in shares) between December 1958 and November 1962.[48]

All three Partners had a pecuniary interest in seeing the line opened as early as practical due to their investment in shares, although it appears that Betts was never more than a 'sleeping partner' while Peto's interest may have moved elsewhere. As a result, Thomas Brassey appears to have been the principal contractor.[note 4]

Brassey appointed four agents to manage the Severn Valley contract on site by residing along the route, from south to north:

  • Miles Day, 49 from Stockport living in Wribbenhall (Day was one of Brassey's most trusted agents, working on his contracts over a period of 20 years or so)
  • Thomas Dowell, 38 from Herefordshire living at 20 Oldbury Village, Bridgnorth
  • John Dent, 50 from Durham living at Belle View Head, Shrewsbury
  • William Field, who had already acted as Partner with Brassey elsewhere. By April 1861 Field was working on the Wenlock Railway and appointed partner and agent on the Knighton Railway, so had been replaced as agent by William Drewitt, 49 of Worthen Shropshire who resided at Mountfield, Shrewsbury.

Construction began during summer 1958.[49] Contemporary newspaper reports during construction refer to the contractors in various different ways, including "Peto, Brassey and Betts", "Brassey, Peto and Betts" (as also appears on the plaque on Victoria Bridge), "Messrs. Brassey & Co" (Brassey working without a partner), and "Brassey and Field".[note 5] Examples of such reports include:

On 6 October 1858 the Wolverhampton Chronicle and Staffordshire Advertiser reported that "Mr Field of the Severn Valley Railway has made an arrangement with Mr Thomas Bache, timber merchant of Bridgnorth, for the arrival of a steam tug at his wharf with the materials for the railway tunnel. It is daily expected. This is the first steam tug ever known on the River Severn, so far up as Bridgnorth." The tug, named Christiana,[note 6] had been built at Shrewsbury by Edward Jeffreys, the locomotive Superintendent of the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway, for reasons unknown although possibly at the instigation of Brassey who was in charge of operating the Railway under a 9-year lease since 1853.[50] Field presumably made this arrangement because of his association with Brassey, rather than Thomas Dowell who was nominally the agent for Bridgnorth.
In January 1859 Eddowes's Shrewsbury Journal reported that Richard Wilding, a bargeman, had appeared in court accused of the theft of three railway sleepers. On inquiry it was ascertained that the sleepers belonged to Messrs. Brassey and Field, and had been taken from their yards in Coleham. Prisoner had been employed to carry sleepers for Messrs. Brassey and Field between Shrewsbury and Bewdley, and he said in his defence that he had found the stolen articles floating in the river. He was sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment. It was stated in the court that Messrs. Brassey and Field have greatly suffered from similar depredations.[51]
On 9 March 1859 Eddowes Journal reported that "During the past week Messrs. Brassey and Field, the contractors, Mr Fowler, engineer, and Mr H.O. Bridgman, resident engineer, have with others, been over the whole line from Hartlebury to Bridgnorth, and have expressed themselves satisfied with the progress of the works." Field is specifically mentioned, although Day and Dowell were the agents for that area.
On 28 May 1859 the Hereford Times reported that at Bridgnorth "The contractors, Messrs. Brassey and Field" find, as we foretold, the working of the tunnel under the town a task rather more difficult than at first contemplated, a curve at either end being rather am obstacle. This their engineer and indefatigable agent, Mr. Thomas Dowell, is determined to surmount by sinking a shaft in the High Street..." A report in the Derbyshire Times on 3 September describing the engineering difficulties being overcome "in a most satisfactory manner" again referred to Mr Dowell as "the engineer and agent to Messrs. Brassey & Co."
The Illustrated London News of 17 December 1859, reporting on the laying of the foundation stone of Victoria Bridge on 24 November, ended "The line...has been designed, and is being carried out, under the direction of John Fowler Esq., the engineer in chief to the company. Messrs. Brassey and Field are the contractors for the whole works." The ceremony was followed by a 'sumptuous dinner' in the evening attended by the participants and chaired by William Field.[52]
On 10 December 1859 one of the two keystones for the main arch of Wribbenhall Viaduct was laid by William Field (the other was laid by the Mayor of Bewdley).[53]
The Shrewsbury Chronicle on 3 August 1860 reported on the half-yearly meeting of the Severn Valley Railway Company on 1st August 1860, noting that the Chairman John Parson had advised that "...by their arrangement with Mr. Brassey, some delay might arise in opening the line...".
The Worcester Journal on 1 February 1962 gave a lengthy description of the line at opening, including "The engineer who has constructed the railway is Mr. John Fowler, assisted by Mr H.O. Bridgman and Mr. J Foggerty. The contractors are Messrs. Brassey and Field, whose engineer for the southern portion of the line is Mr. Day." The Salopian Journal in a similar article on 4 February noted that the 'Special' train from Worcester on 1 February included "Messrs. Brassey and Field, contractors."

At the opening of the Railway, Brassey and Field took out a 12-month contract with the West Midland Railway for maintenance of the line.[54]

As a postscript, The Hereford Times on 8 February 1862 reported on a ball held at Church Stretton "in commemoration of the opening of the double line of railway to Church Stretton on the Shrewsbury and Hereford Line, and also the coming of age of Mr. W. Field Jun., of the eminent firm of Brassey, Field & Co."

Other collaborations between Brassey and Field[edit | edit source]

During and after the construction of the Severn Valley Railway, Brassey and Field were involved as partners in many other railway projects. In the Severn Valley area, their partnership undertook the construction of:

  • The Wenlock Railway[note 8] (Authorised in 1861) with Dent and Mackay as agents.[58], Railway #1 (Much Wenlock to Craven Arms) was completed in stages between 1864 and 1867. Railway #2 (Buildwas to Coalbrookdale via Albert Edward Bridge) was completed in November 1864.
  • The GWR Coalbrookdale extension (auth. 1861, completed November 1864), completed concurrently with the Wenlock Railway Coalbrookdale extension.

Elsewhere they were involved in:

Railway (external links to Wikipedia) Miles Completed Contractors Agent(s) References and notes
Knighton Railway 12 1861 Brassey and Field Field [59]
South Staffordshire Railway 4 1862 Brassey and Field Day [58]
South Leicester Railway 10 1864 Brassey and Field Stephenson [58]
Cannock Chase Extension 3 ? Brassey and Field Cooper [58] Presumably an extension to the Cannock Chase mineral lines
Nantwich and Market Drayton Railway 11 1863 Brassey and Field Gallagher, Mackay [58] The contract was for £44,750 with a portion of the payment in shares.[60]
Ludlow and Clee Railway 6 1864 Brassey and Field Mackay [58] The contract was for £12,207.[61]
Vale of Llangollen Railway 6 1862 Brassey and Field Gallagher [58] Brassey and Field subscribed for £10,000 and William Field for £5,000 out of the proposed capital of £45,000.[62] Around 500 navvies were emploted in its construction.[63]
Stafford and Uttoxeter Railway 12½ 1867 Field ? Sole contract for Field, Brassey not involved.[64]
Henley-in-Arden Railway 3 n/a Brassey and Field ? Authorised 1861. Construction began March 1864,[65] and restarted in May 1865 after a stoppage over the winter.[66] Construction ended in 1866 still incomplete.[67]
Enniskillen and Bundoran Railway 36 1868 Brassey and Field Day, Drennan [68]
Wellington and Market Drayton Railway 16 1867 Brassey and Field ? [68] Construction began 1865, opened 1 November 1867.[69]
Corwen and Bala Railway 14 1868 Brassey Field, Reid Wakler cites Field as agent.[68] Other reports cite John Reed (sic) as agent for Brassey and Field.[70][71]
Hull and Doncaster Railway 16 1869 Brassey and Field Stephenson [72] Successfully tendered in 1865.[73]
Hereford Loop Railway 2½ ? Brassey and Field Mackay [72] Commenced 1865, "The loop line connecting the whole of the lines of railway in the city of Hereford".[74]
Kirby line Hooton and Parkgate Railway 5 1866 Brassey and Field Mackay [72]
Nantwich and Market Drayton Railway (widening) 11 Brassey and Field Reid, Mackay [72]
Llangollen and Corwen Railway 9½ 1865 Brassey Field [72]
Bala and Dolgelly Railway 18 1868 Brassey Field, Day, Drennan [75] Construction began in 1865.[76]
Sirhowy Railway extension 2 ? Brassey and Field Mackay Described by Walker as the Ebbw Vale Railway (Sirhowy is approx 2 miles from Ebbw Vale).[75] Work commenced March 1967.[77]
LNWR Brecon and Merthyr extension Field ? Extension from Rhymney-bridge to the Brecon and Merthyr station at Dowlais. The tender of "Mr. Field (late Brassey and Field)" was accepted in April 1870.[78][79][note 9]

The partnership also carried out other civil engineering contracts, including:

  • Construction of the sewerage works at the new Ludlow Livestock Market in 1862, costing £7,320.[80]
  • Construction of docks at Barrow for the Furness Railway.[81]

See also[edit | edit source]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Charles Walker's history of Brassey and John Marshall's history of the Severn Valley Railway both make only passing reference to Field. Marshall also published A Biographical Dictionary of Railway Engineers including over 600 mechanical and civil engineers. Brassey is listed, Field is not.
  2. ↑ The accuracy of Field's obituary is open to question in this regard. It states that the two became brothers-in-law subsequent to that that first contact; they had been brothers-in-law since Field's marriage to Christiana in 1838. It seems very unlikely that they would not have met in person at some point before the mid-1840s, and they would surely at least have been aware of each other. It is also open to question whether they actually met as Trent Valley Director / Contractor rather than in a medical capacity.
  3. ↑ Linking Loughborough and Alrewas with a branch from Ashby-de-la-Zouch to Derby.
  4. ↑ Charles Walker's book 'Thomas Brassey, Railway Builder' states that Brassey contracted for the Severn Valley Railway as sole partner in 1861. In chronological order, the book describes Brassey's involvement in the Tenbury and Wenlock Railways in 1960 before the SVR in 1861. Plainly Brassey was involved in construction from the very beginning; it is unclear if there was a separate 1861 contract that superseded the Peto, Brassey & Betts contract of 1858, or whether Walker is incorrect.
  5. ↑ The predominance of "Brassey and Field" in reports on the construction of the SVR may in part be due to the standards of reporting of the day, but it may also reflect the actual situation, namely that the two were working as partners on other projects at the same time, and that Brassey was in charge on the SVR (reporting to John Foster) with Field acting as his lieutenant or 'quasi-partner' during his involvement there.
  6. ↑ Presumably the tug was named after Field's wife, Field being a Director of the S&H which built it.
  7. ↑ Walker incorrectly refers to this as the "Wenlock Railway"
  8. ↑ The Wenlock Railway was originally planned as the "Much Wenlock, Craven Arms and Coalbrookdale Railway". Walker refers to it as the "Wenlock and Craven Arms Railway".
  9. ↑ Some contemporary reports stated Brassey and Field; by that time Brassey was suffering from incurable cancer and later died in December 1870.

References[edit | edit source]

  • Ancestry UK for census information
  • The British Newspaper Archive for newspaper articles.
  1. ↑ Walker (1969) pp. 169-171.
  2. ↑ Thomas Brassey on Wikipedia
  3. ↑ Walker 1969, pp. 169-171.
  4. ↑ Bryan Morgan, Railways, Civil Engineering, 1973, p. 50.
  5. ↑ Walker (1969), pp. 14-15.
  6. ↑ Date of birth is on his gravestone in St James's Churchyard.
  7. ↑ Preston Chronicle, 8 September 1838
  8. ↑ Census information via FindMyPast.co.uk
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Census information via Ancestry.co.uk
  10. ↑ FindMyPast.co.uk
  11. ↑ Volunteer Force on Wikipedia
  12. ↑ Citizen Soldiers of Salop on suburbanmilitarism.wordpress.com
  13. ↑ 'Shropshire Volunteers', Wellington Journal, 24 November 1906
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Obituary, Death of Colonel Field, Shrewsbury Chronicle, 29 June 1894
  15. ↑ Hereford Times, 3 June 1854.
  16. ↑ Hereford Journal, 30 December 1857
  17. ↑ Hereford Times, 27 November 1858
  18. ↑ Hereford Times, 14 September 1861
  19. ↑ Eddowes's Shrewsbury Journal, 5 September 1877
  20. ↑ Tenbury Wells Advertiser, 26 March 1895
  21. ↑ Eddowes's Shrewsbury Journal, 15 June 1859
  22. ↑ Staffordshire Advertiser, 28 May 1859
  23. ↑ Newcastle Journal, 17 September 1863
  24. ↑ Lincolnshire Chronicle, Published Saturday, 8 April 1865
  25. ↑ Herepath's Journal, 20 April 1844
  26. ↑ Birmingham Journal, Saturday 24 April 1847
  27. ↑ Herapath's Railway Journal, Published Wednesday, 8 October 1845
  28. ↑ Walker 1969, p. 62.
  29. ↑ Wikipedia
  30. ↑ Hereford Times, 21 August 1858
  31. ↑ Railway Times, 4 September 1858
  32. ↑ Walker 1969, p. 76.
  33. ↑ Worcestershire Chronicle, Published Wednesday, 21 September 1853
  34. ↑ Wikipedia
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Hereford Journal, Wednesday 7 June 1854, testimony of William Field to the House of Commons Committee
  36. ↑ Hereford Journal, 17 October 1860, Lessee of the Railway
  37. ↑ Morning Post, 16 March 1853, Verdict of Manslaughter
  38. ↑ Knowles (2022) p.20.
  39. ↑ Forgotten Railways: Vol 11, Rex Christiansen (1988), p.100.
  40. ↑ Herapath's Railway Journal, 17 April 1858
  41. ↑ Railway Times, 2 February 1856
  42. ↑ Hereford Journal, 18 November 1857
  43. ↑ Walker 1969, p. 113.
  44. ↑ Walker 1969, p. 120.
  45. ↑ Herapath's Railway Journal, 5 March 1859
  46. ↑ Leicester Chronicle, 22 October 1859
  47. ↑ Marshall (1989) p.37.
  48. ↑ Marshall (1989), pp. 50-51.
  49. ↑ Marshall (1989), pp. 50-51.
  50. ↑ Marshall (1989), p. 40.
  51. ↑ Eddowes's Shrewsbury Journal, 12 January 1859
  52. ↑ Worcestershire Chronicle, 30 November 1859
  53. ↑ Marshall (1989), p. 42.
  54. ↑ Salopian Journal, 4 February 1862
  55. ↑ Beddoes & Smith (1995), pp.13-14,23.
  56. ↑ 56.0 56.1 Walker (2022), p. 118.
  57. ↑ Beddoes & Smith (1995), pp.17-27.
  58. ↑ 58.0 58.1 58.2 58.3 58.4 58.5 58.6 58.7 Walker (2022), pp. 121-122.
  59. ↑ Walker 1969, p. 120.
  60. ↑ Sun (London), 21 January 1862
  61. ↑ Eddowes's Shrewsbury Journal, 8 October 1862
  62. ↑ Railway Times, 26 March 1859
  63. ↑ Rhyl Record, 30 August 1860
  64. ↑ Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal, 20 February 1863
  65. ↑ Aris's Birmingham Gazette, 12 March 1864
  66. ↑ Leamington Spa Courier, 13 May 1865
  67. ↑ Birmingham Daily Gazette, 18 September 1866
  68. ↑ 68.0 68.1 68.2 Walker 1969, p. 129.
  69. ↑ Daily News (London), 1 November 1867
  70. ↑ Rhyl Record, 10 April 1868
  71. ↑ Wrexham Advertiser, 4 January 1868
  72. ↑ 72.0 72.1 72.2 72.3 72.4 Walker 1969, p. 133.
  73. ↑ Stamford Mercury, 12 May 1865
  74. ↑ Cheltenham Chronicle, 7 February 1865
  75. ↑ 75.0 75.1 Walker 1969, p. 134.
  76. ↑ Railway News, 23 September 1865
  77. ↑ Merthyr Telegraph, and General Advertiser for the Iron Districts of South Wales, 9 March 1867
  78. ↑ Merthyr Telegraph, and General Advertiser for the Iron Districts of South Wales, 30 April 1870
  79. ↑ Monmouthshire Merlin, 25 June 1870
  80. ↑ Hereford Journal, 23 August 1862
  81. ↑ Whitehaven Herald and Cumberland Advertiser, 26 March 1864

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

  • Walker, Charles (1969). Thomas Brassey: Railway Builder. Frederick Muller. SBN 584-10305-0
  • Marshall, John (1989). The Severn Valley Railway. David & Charles, ISBN 0-946537-45-3

External links[edit | edit source]

Severn Valley Railway

Francis Webb, Locomotive Superintendant/Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the London and North Western Railway 1871-1903

A type of brakes used on GWR wagons after Grouping in 1923, replacing the earlier DC (Dean Churchward) types.

Henry Fowler, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the Midland Railway 1909-1923, and of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway 1923-1933

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