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Westinghouse/Dick Kerr 45hp Petrol Electric Tractor

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by Rlangham, Nov 28, 2009.

  1. Rlangham

    Rlangham Well-Known Member

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    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

    [​IMG]
     
    Rlangham, Nov 28, 2009
    #1
  2. Charobin

    Charobin Member

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

    Charlie
     
    Charobin, Nov 28, 2009
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  3. rough-shunter

    rough-shunter Guest

    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
     
    rough-shunter, Nov 28, 2009
    #3
  4. Anthony Coulls

    Anthony Coulls Well-Known Member

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    There is one in the Rampton collection, it featured in a local issues programme on Welsh telly in 1996.
     
    Anthony Coulls, Nov 28, 2009
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  5. SillyBilly

    SillyBilly Member

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    SillyBilly, Nov 29, 2009
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  6. kscanes

    kscanes Resident of Nat Pres

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    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.
     
    kscanes, Nov 29, 2009
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  7. houghtonga

    houghtonga Member

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    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.
     
    houghtonga, Nov 29, 2009
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  8. lynbarn

    lynbarn Well-Known Member

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    Hi all are there any works drawing for these locos anywhere?
     
    lynbarn, Jan 20, 2013
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  9. Baldwin

    Baldwin Guest

    What is the oldest diesel/petrol loco built by Kerr Stuart, how far do they go back ?
     
    Baldwin, Jan 20, 2013
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  10. houghtonga

    houghtonga Member

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

    (My last post above should help explain).

    G.
     
    houghtonga, Jan 20, 2013
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  11. Baldwin

    Baldwin Guest

    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 !!

    [​IMG]
    Uploaded with ImageShack.us
     
    Baldwin, Jan 20, 2013
    #11
  12. Baldwin

    Baldwin Guest

    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.
     
    Baldwin, Jan 20, 2013
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  13. kscanes

    kscanes Resident of Nat Pres

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    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.
     
    kscanes, Jan 21, 2013
    #13
  14. Baldwin

    Baldwin Guest

    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 !!
     
    Baldwin, Jan 21, 2013
    #14
  15. houghtonga

    houghtonga Member

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    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/
     
    houghtonga, Jan 21, 2013
    #15

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