Clayton Equipment Company
Encyclopedia
Clayton Equipment Company Ltd, now known simply as Clayton Equipment Ltd or CEC and CEL, is a locomotive
construction company that specialises in locomotives for underground mining operations.
, England
. As well as railway rolling stock
, Clayton Carriage and Wagon also constructed motive power such as steam-powered railcar
s, including one of only two steam railcars
to operate in New Zealand
.
At the start of the Great Depression
, Clayton Carriage and Wagon went into receivership and its Chief Draughtsman incorporated the Clayton Equipment Company Ltd in 1931 to continue supplying spare parts and maintenance for Clayton's products.
After World War II
, Clayton Equipment Ltd experienced significant growth as it acted as a subcontrator of International Combustion
, constructing various products such as farming equipment and industrial conveyors in response to a post-War shortage. The expansion necessitated the acquisition of new premises in Hatton
, Derbyshire
, and in 1957, Clayton Equipment Ltd became an independent unit wholly owned by International Combustion Ltd.
British Rail
, as part of its dieselisation scheme, contracted Clayton Equipment Ltd to supply eighty-eight diesel-electric locomotives (what would later be known as the BR Class 17
), and other orders were fulfilled for international customers from nations as diverse as Cuba
and Poland
. The Cuban locomotives were based on the Brush
Type 4 locomotives also been built at the same time. In the mid-1960s, Clayton designed and manufactured a special rubber-tyred locomotive of especially small size to work in mines, and this became one of its most popular products. It was mainly supplied to British mines, but as the British mining industry went into sharp decline, Clayton was required to promote its product heavily to international customers to retain a sustainable level of business.
After a number of changes of ownership at higher levels, Clayton Equipment Ltd came to be owned by Rolls-Royce
in 1989. It nonetheless retained a significant measure of autonomy, and in March 2005, it became an independent company again.
and Russia
. The company's main products are locomotives for underground mining, including battery-electric
and diesel-hydraulic types. It also provides equipment refurbishment and training.
Four new 75 hp battery powered locomotives named Walter, Lou, Anne and Kitty were built by Clayton Equipment in Derby to haul materials and plant along the line during the closure of the Waterloo and City Line
. These have since been reused on the East London Line
.
After becoming an independent company the part owner and managing director is Steven Gretton.
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
construction company that specialises in locomotives for underground mining operations.
Inception
Clayton Equipment Ltd was preceded by Clayton Carriage and Wagon, a company based in LincolnLincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. As well as railway rolling stock
Rolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
, Clayton Carriage and Wagon also constructed motive power such as steam-powered railcar
Railcar
A railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
s, including one of only two steam railcars
NZR RM class (Clayton)
The NZR RM class Clayton steam railcar was a unique railcar that operated on New Zealand's national rail network and one of only two steam railcars to operate in New Zealand - the other being 1925's RM class Sentinel-Cammell...
to operate in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
At the start of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, Clayton Carriage and Wagon went into receivership and its Chief Draughtsman incorporated the Clayton Equipment Company Ltd in 1931 to continue supplying spare parts and maintenance for Clayton's products.
Growth, acquisition, and independence
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Clayton Equipment Ltd experienced significant growth as it acted as a subcontrator of International Combustion
International Combustion
International Combustion Limited was a major manufacturing business based in Derby offering products for the nuclear engineering industry. International Combustion Australia Limited was a separate non-affiliated company.-History:...
, constructing various products such as farming equipment and industrial conveyors in response to a post-War shortage. The expansion necessitated the acquisition of new premises in Hatton
Hatton, Derbyshire
Hatton is a village in South Derbyshire, England. It is located 6 km north of Burton upon Trent, 20 km west of Derby and 40 km east of Stoke-on-Trent.-Geography:...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, and in 1957, Clayton Equipment Ltd became an independent unit wholly owned by International Combustion Ltd.
British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
, as part of its dieselisation scheme, contracted Clayton Equipment Ltd to supply eighty-eight diesel-electric locomotives (what would later be known as the BR Class 17
British Rail Class 17
The British Rail Class 17 was a class of 117 Bo-Bo diesel-electric locomotives built 1962–1965 by Clayton Equipment Company and their sub-contractor Beyer, Peacock & Co., for British Railways ....
), and other orders were fulfilled for international customers from nations as diverse as Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. The Cuban locomotives were based on the Brush
Brush Traction
This article is about a British rail-locomotive maker. For the Detroit auto-maker, see Brush Motor Car CompanyBrush Traction is a manufacturer and maintainer of railway locomotives, part of the FKI group , based at Loughborough in Leicestershire, England situated alongside the Midland Main Line.-...
Type 4 locomotives also been built at the same time. In the mid-1960s, Clayton designed and manufactured a special rubber-tyred locomotive of especially small size to work in mines, and this became one of its most popular products. It was mainly supplied to British mines, but as the British mining industry went into sharp decline, Clayton was required to promote its product heavily to international customers to retain a sustainable level of business.
After a number of changes of ownership at higher levels, Clayton Equipment Ltd came to be owned by Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce plc
Rolls-Royce Group plc is a global power systems company headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second-largest maker of aircraft engines , and also has major businesses in the marine propulsion and energy sectors. Through its defence-related activities...
in 1989. It nonetheless retained a significant measure of autonomy, and in March 2005, it became an independent company again.
Clayton Equipment Ltd today
Much of the company's orders now come from overseas, including IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. The company's main products are locomotives for underground mining, including battery-electric
Electric locomotive
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...
and diesel-hydraulic types. It also provides equipment refurbishment and training.
Four new 75 hp battery powered locomotives named Walter, Lou, Anne and Kitty were built by Clayton Equipment in Derby to haul materials and plant along the line during the closure of the Waterloo and City Line
Waterloo & City Line
The Waterloo & City line is a short underground railway line in London, which was formally opened on 11 July 1898. It has only two stations, Waterloo and Bank...
. These have since been reused on the East London Line
East London Line
The East London Line is a London Overground line which runs north to south through the East End, Docklands and South areas of London.Built in 1869 by the East London Railway Company, which reused the Thames Tunnel, originally intended for horse-drawn carriages, the line became part of the London...
.
After becoming an independent company the part owner and managing director is Steven Gretton.