Harry Wainwright
Encyclopedia
Harry Smith Wainwright was the Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Superintendent of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway
from 1899 to 1913. He is best known for a series of simple but competent locomotive
s produced under his direction at the company's Ashford railway works
in the early years of the twentieth century. Many of these survived in service until the end of steam traction in Britain in 1968, and are regarded as some of the most elegant designs of the period.
on 16 November 1864, the third son of William Wainwright.
In 1896, he was appointed Carriage & Wagon Superintendent of the South Eastern Railway
(SER), in succession to his father.
On 1 January 1899, the SER entered into a working union with the London, Chatham and Dover Railway
(LCDR); their respective Locomotive Superintendents, James Stirling and William Kirtley
, both retired, and the newly-formed South Eastern and Chatham Railway
(SECR) decided to combine the locomotive, carriage and wagon departments of the two railways, and appoint Wainwright as the Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Superintendent. Robert Surtees, the former LCDR Chief Draughtsman, became Chief Draughtsman of the SECR.
Wainwright retired on 30 November 1913.
Wainwright died on 19 September 1925.
Five 4-4-0 express passenger engines of Kirtley's M3 class, which had been introduced on the LCDR in 1891, were built at Longhedge
between May 1899 and May 1901. Two of these were the balance of an outstanding LCDR order; the remainder formed part of an order for ten placed by the SECR, of which seven were later cancelled.
Five 4-4-0 express passenger engines of Stirling's B class
, which had been introduced on the SER in 1898, were built at Ashford
in June and July 1899.
Five 0-6-0 goods engines of Stirling's O class
, which had been introduced on the SER in 1878, were built at Ashford
in August and September 1899.
The locomotive manufacturer Neilson, Reid and Company had built ten 4-4-0 express passenger engines in late 1899 to the design of William Pickersgill
for the Great North of Scotland Railway
(GNoSR) where they formed Class V
. After the GNoSR decided that only five were required, Neilson's were left with the remainder on their hands, and were asked by the GNoSR to sell them for the best possible price. They were offered to the SECR, which agreed to take the five engines which the GNoSR did not need, subject to certain modifications being made. They were delivered to the SECR in January and February 1900, where they formed the G class.
Fifteen 0-4-4T suburban passenger engines, the R1 class
(based on Kirtley's R class
of 1891) were built by Sharp, Stewart & Co in November and December 1900.
The first designs which credited Wainwright as designer began to appear in 1900. In almost all cases, the actual design work was supervised by Surtees, with Wainwright specifying broad requirements and also deciding the finish and livery.
The C class
of 0-6-0 goods engines comprised 109 locomotives built between 1900 and 1908, of which 15 each were built by the contractors Neilson, Reid and Sharp, Stewart; the remainder were built by the SECR, 60 at Ashford and 9 at Longhedge.
The D class
of 4-4-0 express passenger engines comprised 51 locomotives built between 1901 and 1907, of which 30 were built by four different contractors, and 21 were built by the SECR at Ashford.
The H class
of 0-4-4T suburban passenger engines comprised 64 locomotives built at Ashford between 1904 and 1909, with a final two completed in 1915 after Wainwright's retirement.
Eight steam railcars were bought from Kitson & Co. in 1905-6 for use on local passenger services.
The E class
of 4-4-0 express passenger engines comprised 26 locomotives built at Ashford between 1905 and 1909.
The P class
of 0-6-0T local passenger engines comprised eight locomotives built at Ashford in 1909-10.
The J class
of 0-6-4T passenger engines comprised five locomotives built at Ashford in 1913.
The L class
of 4-4-0 express passenger engines comprised 22 locomotives built by contractors in 1914. Although the specification was drawn up by Wainwright, and the design work supervised by Surtees, the order was not placed until after Wainwright's retirement; his successor, Richard Maunsell
, specified some design changes. 12 came from Beyer, Peacock & Co.
, whilst the other ten were built in Berlin
by A. Borsig
; these were delivered before the outbreak of war
on 3 August 1914, but were not paid for until May 1920.
South Eastern and Chatham Railway
The South Eastern and Chatham Railway Companies Joint Management Committee , known by its shorter name of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway was a working union of two neighbouring rival railways, the South Eastern Railway and London, Chatham and Dover Railway , that operated services between...
from 1899 to 1913. He is best known for a series of simple but competent locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s produced under his direction at the company's Ashford railway works
Ashford railway works
Ashford railway works was in the town of Ashford in the county of Kent in England.-South Eastern Railway:Ashford locomotive works was built by the South Eastern Railway on a new site in 1847, replacing an earlier locomotive repair facility at New Cross in London...
in the early years of the twentieth century. Many of these survived in service until the end of steam traction in Britain in 1968, and are regarded as some of the most elegant designs of the period.
Biography
Wainwright was born at WorcesterWorcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
on 16 November 1864, the third son of William Wainwright.
In 1896, he was appointed Carriage & Wagon Superintendent of the South Eastern Railway
South Eastern Railway (UK)
The South Eastern Railway was a railway company in south-eastern England from 1836 until 1922. The company was formed to construct a route from London to Dover. Branch lines were later opened to Tunbridge Wells, Hastings, Canterbury and other places in Kent...
(SER), in succession to his father.
On 1 January 1899, the SER entered into a working union with the London, Chatham and Dover Railway
London, Chatham and Dover Railway
The London, Chatham and Dover Railway was a railway company in south-eastern England from 1859 until the 1923 grouping which united it with other companies to form the Southern Railway. Its lines ran through London and northern and eastern Kent to form a significant part of the Greater London...
(LCDR); their respective Locomotive Superintendents, James Stirling and William Kirtley
William Kirtley
William Kirtley was the Locomotive Superintendent of the London Chatham and Dover Railway in England from 1874 until the merger to form the South Eastern and Chatham Railway at the end of 1898.-Biography:...
, both retired, and the newly-formed South Eastern and Chatham Railway
South Eastern and Chatham Railway
The South Eastern and Chatham Railway Companies Joint Management Committee , known by its shorter name of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway was a working union of two neighbouring rival railways, the South Eastern Railway and London, Chatham and Dover Railway , that operated services between...
(SECR) decided to combine the locomotive, carriage and wagon departments of the two railways, and appoint Wainwright as the Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Superintendent. Robert Surtees, the former LCDR Chief Draughtsman, became Chief Draughtsman of the SECR.
Wainwright retired on 30 November 1913.
Wainwright died on 19 September 1925.
Locomotives
The first locomotives to be placed in service by the SECR under Wainwright's supervision were not of his design. Until new standard designs could be prepared, which would be acceptable on both the SER and LCDR sections of the SECR, it was necessary to fulfil immediate locomotive requirements in other ways. Existing locomotive orders were allowed to stand; further orders were placed for existing designs (in some cases design modifications were made); and locomotives built to the designs of an entirely different company were purchased from a manufacturer's unsold stock.Five 4-4-0 express passenger engines of Kirtley's M3 class, which had been introduced on the LCDR in 1891, were built at Longhedge
Longhedge Railway Works (Battersea)
Longhedge railway works was a locomotive and carriage works built by the London, Chatham and Dover Railway in the borough of Battersea, South London to serve their new London terminus at Victoria...
between May 1899 and May 1901. Two of these were the balance of an outstanding LCDR order; the remainder formed part of an order for ten placed by the SECR, of which seven were later cancelled.
Five 4-4-0 express passenger engines of Stirling's B class
SECR B1 class
The SECR B1 class was a class of 4-4-0 steam tender locomotive for express passenger service on the South Eastern and Chatham Railway. These engines were originally designed by James Stirling for the South Eastern Railway in 1898 and designated B class...
, which had been introduced on the SER in 1898, were built at Ashford
Ashford railway works
Ashford railway works was in the town of Ashford in the county of Kent in England.-South Eastern Railway:Ashford locomotive works was built by the South Eastern Railway on a new site in 1847, replacing an earlier locomotive repair facility at New Cross in London...
in June and July 1899.
Five 0-6-0 goods engines of Stirling's O class
SECR O Class
The South Eastern Railway O Class was a class of 0-6-0 steam locomotive designed for freight work, and were the main freight engines of the SER, and later the South Eastern and Chatham Railway for a number of years...
, which had been introduced on the SER in 1878, were built at Ashford
Ashford railway works
Ashford railway works was in the town of Ashford in the county of Kent in England.-South Eastern Railway:Ashford locomotive works was built by the South Eastern Railway on a new site in 1847, replacing an earlier locomotive repair facility at New Cross in London...
in August and September 1899.
The locomotive manufacturer Neilson, Reid and Company had built ten 4-4-0 express passenger engines in late 1899 to the design of William Pickersgill
William Pickersgill
William Pickersgill was born in Nantwich in 1861 and died in Bournemouth on 2 May 1928. He was Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Caledonian Railway from 1914 until Grouping in 1923...
for the Great North of Scotland Railway
Great North of Scotland Railway
The Great North of Scotland Railway was one of the smaller Scottish railways before the grouping, operating in the far north-east of the country. It was formed in 1845 and received its Parliamentary approval on June 26, 1846, following over two years of local meetings...
(GNoSR) where they formed Class V
LNER Class D40
The London and North Eastern Railway D40 class is a type of 4-4-0 steam locomotive inherited from the Great North of Scotland Railway . It consisted of GNSR class V and GNSR class F...
. After the GNoSR decided that only five were required, Neilson's were left with the remainder on their hands, and were asked by the GNoSR to sell them for the best possible price. They were offered to the SECR, which agreed to take the five engines which the GNoSR did not need, subject to certain modifications being made. They were delivered to the SECR in January and February 1900, where they formed the G class.
Fifteen 0-4-4T suburban passenger engines, the R1 class
LCDR R1 class
The LCDR R1 class was a class of 0-4-4T locomotives on the South Eastern and Chatham Railway, which were based on an existing London, Chatham and Dover Railway design.-History:...
(based on Kirtley's R class
LCDR R class
The LCDR R class was a class of 0-4-4T locomotives on the London, Chatham and Dover Railway . No. 207 is notable as being the last former LCDR locomotive to be withdrawn from service.-History:...
of 1891) were built by Sharp, Stewart & Co in November and December 1900.
The first designs which credited Wainwright as designer began to appear in 1900. In almost all cases, the actual design work was supervised by Surtees, with Wainwright specifying broad requirements and also deciding the finish and livery.
The C class
SECR C Class
The South Eastern and Chatham Railway C Class is a class of 0-6-0 steam locomotive, designed by Harry Wainwright and built between 1900 and 1908. They were designed for freight duties, although occasionally used for passenger trains. They operated over the lines of the railway in London and...
of 0-6-0 goods engines comprised 109 locomotives built between 1900 and 1908, of which 15 each were built by the contractors Neilson, Reid and Sharp, Stewart; the remainder were built by the SECR, 60 at Ashford and 9 at Longhedge.
The D class
SECR D class
The SECR D class was a class of 4-4-0 tender locomotives designed by Harry Wainwright for the South Eastern and Chatham Railway.-Overview:The construction of the initial 20 engines was shared between Ashford railway works and the Glasgow builder, Sharp, Stewart and Company. The first of the class...
of 4-4-0 express passenger engines comprised 51 locomotives built between 1901 and 1907, of which 30 were built by four different contractors, and 21 were built by the SECR at Ashford.
The H class
SECR H Class
The South Eastern and Chatham Railway H Class is a class of 0-4-4T steam locomotive originally designed for suburban passenger work, designed by Harry Wainwright in 1904...
of 0-4-4T suburban passenger engines comprised 64 locomotives built at Ashford between 1904 and 1909, with a final two completed in 1915 after Wainwright's retirement.
Eight steam railcars were bought from Kitson & Co. in 1905-6 for use on local passenger services.
The E class
SECR E class
The SECR E class was a class of 4-4-0 tender locomotives designed by Harry Wainwright for express passenger trains on the South Eastern and Chatham Railway...
of 4-4-0 express passenger engines comprised 26 locomotives built at Ashford between 1905 and 1909.
The P class
SECR P Class
The South Eastern and Chatham Railway P Class is a class of 0-6-0T steam locomotive designed by Harry Wainwright.They were inspired by, and loosely based on, the more successful LB&SCR A1 Class "Terriers" and eight were built in 1909 and 1910. They were originally intended for lightweight...
of 0-6-0T local passenger engines comprised eight locomotives built at Ashford in 1909-10.
The J class
SECR J class
The SECR J class was a class of 0-6-4T steam tender locomotive built for heavy freight service on the South Eastern and Chatham Railway, by Harry Wainwright.-History:...
of 0-6-4T passenger engines comprised five locomotives built at Ashford in 1913.
The L class
SECR L class
The SECR L class was a class of 4-4-0 steam tender locomotive built for express passenger service on the South Eastern and Chatham Railway. Although designed by Harry Wainwright, they were built during the Maunsell era.-Background:...
of 4-4-0 express passenger engines comprised 22 locomotives built by contractors in 1914. Although the specification was drawn up by Wainwright, and the design work supervised by Surtees, the order was not placed until after Wainwright's retirement; his successor, Richard 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....
, specified some design changes. 12 came from Beyer, Peacock & Co.
Beyer, Peacock and Company
Beyer, Peacock and Company was an English railway Locomotive manufacturer with a factory in Gorton, Manchester. Founded by Charles Beyer and Richard Peacock, it traded from 1854 until 1966...
, whilst the other ten were built in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
by A. Borsig
August Borsig
Johann Friedrich August Borsig was a German businessman who founded the Borsig-Werke factory.Borsig was born in Breslau , the son of cuirassier and carpenter foreman Johann George Borsig...
; these were delivered before the outbreak of war
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
on 3 August 1914, but were not paid for until May 1920.