Fox Works - Engineer Memoir

SO IT IS, That I inevitably pick up much knowledge of many railways and their rich histories, particularly acknowledging details of the engineers and companies. I wish to carry this knowledge on in a meaningful way that can perhaps convey my intense passion for these histories, and so I shall try and discuss such here, and hope you will enjoy reading!

Photograph of Stirling, aged 70, found in F.A.S. Brown's From Stirling to Gresley, 1882-1922.

REFERENCES:

1) Locomotives of the Glasgow & South Western Railway, David L. Smith.

2) Great Northern Locomotive Engineers, F A S Brown.

Photograph of the G&SWR No. 58 Class I found on Ebay; 26 total were built from 1866 thru. 1869, This locomotive was the final design of Patrick, with only two constructed before his departure from the company, his brother was to continue twenty four additional engines of the class.

PATRICK STIRLING was born in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire to an innovating and mechanically apt family in 1820 as the son of Rev. Robert Stirling, inventor of the Stirling steam engine.

Stirling famously was an engineer of the Great Northern Railway, but his life entails a distinguished career in mechanical work beyond and before his time there. Notably, His days under the G&SWR were undoubtedly of great service to his eventual feats of locomotive engineering.

The Scottish Chapter:

Stirling was working as Departmental Manager of the R&W Hawthorn firm, before being picked up by the board of the Glasgow & South Western Railway in January of 1853 to serve as their Locomotive Superintendent. Later, Stirling would go on to establish the Kilmarnock Works of the company, and design a vast fleet of useful locomotives, including that of the 2, 40, and 45 Classes of 2-2-2's which bore distinct features including gracefully curved splashers, high valences and the Stirling trademark of domeless boilers.

Stirling had been working for the G&SWR for over 12 years, when to the concern of the company board, had received an author 'from a railway company in England' in 1865¹. D L Smith notes that the board of the company had sent the chairman and his deputy to negotiate with Stirling to stay for an extra six years, who, and i quote, "Stirling apparently became querulous concerning the authority of the chairman to negotiate an agreement of this sort", which is absolutely hilarious, considering the context and meaning; "Complaining in a petulant or whining manner."

"The railway company in England":

More writing to come soon, sorry folks !

Photograph of J. Stirling in 1917, from the Grace's Guide Website

JAMES STIRLING was the younger brother of Patrick Stirling, and son to Robert Stirling, born in 1835 in Galston, East Ayrshire, James, though 15 years younger, was perhaps equally as brilliant as his famous brother with whom he served an apprenticeship under in the Glasgow & South Western. His career was to follow his own path of spectacular design, retaining a few distinct 'Stirling' traits along the way, including domeless boilers, and the graceful wrap-a-round cab.

James first set foot in 'the business' in 1855 serving various roles in Kilmarnock works for the G&SWR before eventually reaching Works Manager. He held this position until being promoted as the successor of his brother in 1865, who had left for the GNR. James had eventually served 12 years as his brother did, before handing in a resignation to move on to the South Eastern Railway for a further 20 years. i am not too well informed in this chapter of his history, unfortunate to say.