Westinghouse/Dick Kerr 45hp Petrol Electric Tractor

Does anyone know if the Westinghouse and Dick Kerr built 45hp petrol electric tractors, build for the War Department Light Railway's in WW1, survive today? Here's an image of one from the WDLR website, http://www.wdlr.org.uk

 

I think there may be one in the Rampton collection - not sure though.

Charlie

 

according to Narrow gauge at war 1 By keith taylorson there is indeed a dick kerr preserved apendixed with a note saying rebuilt with a diesel engine

i can recomend both narrowgauge at war 1 and 2 as superb books well worth purchasing

 

There is one in the Rampton collection, it featured in a local issues programme on Welsh telly in 1996.

 

http://tacotdeslacs.free.fr/collection.html
One in France at the same Railway as 'Felin Hen' the ex-Penrhyn Baldwin.

 

It is a shame that out of two hundred built, apparently only two survive. I can guess the reason though - they were more attractive for their electrical equipment (to be used elsewhere) than as locos.

Clay Cross (Ashover) bought several, and ended up using at least three as locos - one of which survived to 1964 as a standard gauge loco. If only it had lasted a few more years then surely it would have been preserved. And Boulton & Paul at Norwich had a standard gauge conversion into the 1950s.

 

Dick Kerr and Kerr Stuart were related companies. James Kerr and John Kerr were brothers, but each had seperate businesses.

James with his business partner John Stuart were Kerr Stuart & Co. Ltd (originally Glaswegian dealers, rather than manufacturers, in plant equipment and rolling stock for the construction industry).
John Kerr bought into a tramway equipment firm called W.B.Dick and Company in 1883, thus forming Dick Kerr & Co.

Both Dick Kerr and Kerr Stuart used equipment manufactured by Hartley, Arnoux and Fanning. Since 1872 this diverse organisation had also been supplying general engineering products, notably for the brick and pottery industries from their California works site in Stoke-on-Trent, and electrical/tramway equipment from a second site in Preston.

In 1893 Kerr Stuart & Co and Dick Kerr & Co together bought out Hartley, Arnoux and Fanning. They then split up the business; Dick Kerr & Co took over the Preston site and Kerr Stuart & Co chose to enter the locomotive manufacturing industry in their own right at the Stoke-on-Trent works.

 

Hi all are there any works drawing for these locos anywhere?

 

What is the oldest diesel/petrol loco built by Kerr Stuart, how far do they go back ?

 

Do you mean Kerr, Stuart & Co or Dick, Kerr & Co?

(My last post above should help explain).

G.

 

The reason i asked is because i've got this from 1910....note the two chimneys and the gearbox, could possibly be the cone system of changing speed, not too sure though !!


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I have also been inside the one in Paris, their not small i can tell you, i have some photos of the interior which i shall try and find.

 

Interesting. Most Kerr Stuart internal combustion locos seem to date from 1928 onwards, the oldest surviving in the UK being the ex Mauritius 6wDM at the Ffestiniog. However, "Industrial Locomotives of North Wales" published by The Industrial Railway Society does list a 1'10" gauge 25hp 0-4-0PM Kerr Stuart works number 861 of 1904 at Willoughby Lead Mine near Llanrwst; in auction sale 7/1907; no further trace.

 

Whilst on the history of the two companies, Dick Kerr was massive in France supplying the "Reseau du Midi" with traction equipment for all their locomotives and i think one could trace them through to the BR class 77 !!

 

And possibly Pendolinos too!

Dick Kerr became part of GEC and later Alstom - the factory is still in production I think. They certainly made the traction motors for the class 91s.

edit: Wikipedia

In 1968, GEC merged with English Electric, incorporating Elliott Brothers, the Marconi Company, Ruston & Hornsby, Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns and the Vulcan Foundry, Willans & Robinson and Dick, Kerr & Co.

In 1989 GEC and Compagnie Générale d'Electricité (CGE) merged their power generation and transport business in a new joint venture, GEC-ALSTHOM. In 1998 the Group is introduced on to the Paris Stock Exchange and changes its name from GEC Alsthom to Alstom. GEC and Alcatel sell off part of their stakes in the capital (23.6% each).

Dick, Kerr & Co. incidently had a significant role in the history of Women's Football
http://www.dickkerrladies.com/