Alexander McDonnell (engineer)
Encyclopedia
Alexander McDonnell was an Irish locomotive engineer
and civil engineer
. He was born in Dublin on 18 December 1829 and died in Holyhead
on 14 December 1904. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin
, where he graduated with an Honours degree in Mathematics. He brought order and standardisation to the workshops and locomotive designs of the Great Southern and Western Railway
of Ireland, and was later employed to do the same for the North Eastern Railway
in England, although resistance to his changes meant that he left before the task had got very far.
– later to become part of the Great Western Railway
.
From 1864 to 1883 he was Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Superintendent of the Great Southern and Western Railway
of Ireland at Inchicore
. McDonnell reformed the GS&WR workshop practices and improved their speed and efficiency. He also introduced practices then in use at Crewe Works
and standardised parts between locomotive classes.
McDonnell was noted for his ability to recognise, and employ, men of talent. By doing this, he initiated the "Inchicore school" of locomotive engineers, who would include Sir John Aspinall
, H.A. Ivatt, and R.E.L. Maunsell
.
From 1 November 1882, McDonnell was Locomotive Superintendent of the North Eastern Railway
(NER) in England; he succeeded Edward Fletcher
, who had retired. He found that Fletcher's locomotives, although good, did not use standardised components. McDonnell decided that in future, locomotives would use shared standard parts where possible, and that locomotive design and construction would utilise the practices which he had used at Inchicore. His first locomotive design for the NER, the '38' class 4-4-0
, incorporated a number of unpopular features; and some popular features of Fletcher's engines were omitted. Worse, although the new locomotives were larger than Fletcher's most recent designs, they were no more capable. His only other design for the NER, the '59' class 0-6-0, were also unpopular; in this case, the engines were of similar size to Fletcher's most recent 0-6-0, but were less powerful. As a consequence, McDonnell resigned from the NER in September 1884, receiving a year's salary as severance pay
. McDonnell was not replaced immediately, the NER's locomotive department then being managed by a committee chaired by Henry Tennant
.
Locomotive engineer
A locomotive engineer may refer to:*Railroad engineer, a person who operates a locomotive, usually called an engine or train driver outside North America*Locomotive builder, a person who designs and builds locomotives...
and civil engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
. He was born in Dublin on 18 December 1829 and died in Holyhead
Holyhead
Holyhead is the largest town in the county of Anglesey in the North Wales. It is also a major port adjacent to the Irish Sea serving Ireland....
on 14 December 1904. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, where he graduated with an Honours degree in Mathematics. He brought order and standardisation to the workshops and locomotive designs of the Great Southern and Western Railway
Great Southern and Western Railway
The Great Southern and Western Railway was the largest Irish gauge railway company in Ireland in the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
of Ireland, and was later employed to do the same for the North Eastern Railway
North Eastern Railway (UK)
The North Eastern Railway , was an English railway company. It was incorporated in 1854, when four existing companies were combined, and was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923...
in England, although resistance to his changes meant that he left before the task had got very far.
Career
McDonnell was apprenticed at Newall and Gordon in Westminster before working as an engineer at the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford RailwayNewport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway
The Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway was a railway line connecting the Welsh port city of Newport via Abergavenny, to the major English market town of Hereford.Sponsored by the LNWR, it opened on 6 December 1853...
– later to become part of the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
.
From 1864 to 1883 he was Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Superintendent of the Great Southern and Western Railway
Great Southern and Western Railway
The Great Southern and Western Railway was the largest Irish gauge railway company in Ireland in the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
of Ireland at Inchicore
Inchicore
-Location and access:Located five kilometres due west of the city centre, Inchicore lies south of the River Liffey, west of Kilmainham, north of Drimnagh and east of Ballyfermot. The majority of Inchicore is in the Dublin 8 postal district...
. McDonnell reformed the GS&WR workshop practices and improved their speed and efficiency. He also introduced practices then in use at Crewe Works
Crewe Works
Crewe railway works is a British railway engineering facility built in 1840 by the Grand Junction Railway. It is located in the town of Crewe, in the county of Cheshire....
and standardised parts between locomotive classes.
McDonnell was noted for his ability to recognise, and employ, men of talent. By doing this, he initiated the "Inchicore school" of locomotive engineers, who would include Sir John Aspinall
John Aspinall (engineer)
Sir John Audley Frederick Aspinall was a British mechanical engineer who served as Locomotive Superintendent of the Great Southern and Western and Lancashire and Yorkshire Railways. He introduced vacuum brakes to his locomotives in Ireland, a trend which was followed in Britain, and designed...
, H.A. Ivatt, and R.E.L. Maunsell
Richard Maunsell
Richard Edward Lloyd Maunsell held the post of Chief Mechanical Engineer of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway from 1913 until the 1923 Grouping and then the post of CME of the Southern Railway in England until 1937....
.
From 1 November 1882, McDonnell was Locomotive Superintendent of the North Eastern Railway
North Eastern Railway (UK)
The North Eastern Railway , was an English railway company. It was incorporated in 1854, when four existing companies were combined, and was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923...
(NER) in England; he succeeded Edward Fletcher
Edward Fletcher (engineer)
Edward Fletcher was a British engineer, and locomotive superintendent of the North Eastern Railway . He was born in Northumberland.-Career:...
, who had retired. He found that Fletcher's locomotives, although good, did not use standardised components. McDonnell decided that in future, locomotives would use shared standard parts where possible, and that locomotive design and construction would utilise the practices which he had used at Inchicore. His first locomotive design for the NER, the '38' class 4-4-0
NER 38 Class
The NER 38 Class was a class of 4-4-0 steam locomotives designed by Alexander McDonnell for the North Eastern Railway. Twenty-eight were built in 1884–5, and remained in service until 1915–23.-History:...
, incorporated a number of unpopular features; and some popular features of Fletcher's engines were omitted. Worse, although the new locomotives were larger than Fletcher's most recent designs, they were no more capable. His only other design for the NER, the '59' class 0-6-0, were also unpopular; in this case, the engines were of similar size to Fletcher's most recent 0-6-0, but were less powerful. As a consequence, McDonnell resigned from the NER in September 1884, receiving a year's salary as severance pay
Severance package
A severance package is pay and benefits an employee receives when they leave employment at a company. In addition to the employee's remaining regular pay, it may include some of the following:* An additional payment based on months of service...
. McDonnell was not replaced immediately, the NER's locomotive department then being managed by a committee chaired by Henry Tennant
Henry Tennant
Henry Tennant was a British railway administrator. He served as General Manager of the North Eastern Railway from 1870 to 1891. He was chairman of the Central London Railway from 1895 to 1898 and a director of the company after that....
.
GS&WR
- GS&WR Class 2 – 4-4-04-4-0Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels...
- GS&WR Class 21 – 2-4-02-4-0Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels....
- GS&WR Class 47 – 0-4-4 back tank
- GS&WR Class 90 – 0-6-0T
- GS&WR Class 91 – 0-6-4T Inspection saloon/locomotive
- GS&WR Class 101 – 0-6-00-6-0Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...
- GS&WR Class 203 – 0-6-4T
- GS&WR Class 204 – 0-6-0T
- GS&WR Class Sprite – 0-4-2T
NER
- NER Class '38'NER 38 ClassThe NER 38 Class was a class of 4-4-0 steam locomotives designed by Alexander McDonnell for the North Eastern Railway. Twenty-eight were built in 1884–5, and remained in service until 1915–23.-History:...
4-4-0 - NER Class '59' (LNER Class J22) 0-6-0
See also
- Steam locomotives of IrelandSteam locomotives of IrelandA wide variety of steam locomotives have been used on Ireland's railways. This page lists all those that have been used in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland...
- Locomotives of the London and North Eastern RailwayLocomotives of the London and North Eastern RailwayThe London and North Eastern Railway produced several classes of locomotive, mostly to the designs of Nigel Gresley, characterised by a three cylinder layout with a parallel boiler and round-topped firebox. It produced the most iconic locomotive of its day, 4468 'Mallard', the holder of the...