Jenny Lind locomotive
Encyclopedia
The Jenny Lind locomotive was the first of a class of ten steam locomotive
s built in 1847 for the London Brighton and South Coast Railway by E. B. Wilson and Company
of Leeds
, named after Jenny Lind
who was a famous opera singer of the period. The general design proved to be very successful that the manufacturers adopted it for use on other railways, and it became the first mass-produced locomotive type. The 'Jenny Lind' type was also widely copied during the late 1840s and 1850s, and into the 1860s.
, the Chief Draughtsman of E.B.Wilson, was asked to visit Brighton railway works
to make tracings of the drawings of a 2-2-2
locomotive designed by John Gray
for the railway so that ten further examples could be built. However, before he had completed the task, Gray had been dismissed from his post of Locomotive Superintendent, and his successor Thomas Kirtley
did not favour Gray's complicated horse-leg motion. As a result it was left to Joy and James Fenton the works manager at E. B. Wilson to adapt the design. p.38-9. Joy had spent his formative years studying all the locomotives he came across, sketching them, making notes, and interrogating their owners and crews - and, if he could, getting rides on them.
As is usual in engineering, there were a number of trade-offs to be made in steam locomotive design. There is a limit to the rate that steam can be delivered to the pistons, therefore higher speed was obtained with larger driving wheels. These however limited the size of the boiler, since it needed to fit between them, particularly with the preoccupation of the time with a lower centre of gravity. The tendency had been to lengthen the boilers with supporting wheels front and rear. Thus passenger engines, such as the so-called Long Boiler locomotive
s were usually of a 4-2-0
wheel arrangement. However too long a boiler also created instability. Some locomotives improved adhesion for heavier loads by coupling pairs of driving wheels, however there was a tendency for the wrought iron
coupling rods to break especially at speed. Thus four and six-coupled locomotives were used for freight trains.
Joy and Fenton settled on a medium sized boiler, 800 sq ft (74.3 m²) heated surface area, with a pressure of 120 lbf/in2 and concentrated on its steaming abilities. In this, James Fenton had particular expertise. The engine had 15 by 20 in (381 by 508 mm) inside cylinders and 6 in 0 in (1.83 m) driving wheels. Gray's so-called 'mixed' frame had an inside frame for the cylinders and driving wheels, with inside bearings, and an outside frame for the 4 in 0 in (1.22 m) leading and trailing wheels, using outside bearings. The inside frame stopped at the firebox, so that the latter was as wide as the wheels would allow. By this means he minimised the overhang at each end.
After some strengthening of various members, the engine was three tons heavier than expected. However, it steamed freely and was economical on fuel. It was to this that its success was attributed, along with the increase in boiler pressure that had become possible over the years. However credit must be given to Joy's suspension arrangements that made it extremely smooth-running and stable. The name 'Jenny Lind' was given to the first one delivered to the London Brighton and South Coast Railway.
. It could be said to be the first to be mass-produced to a consistent pattern. Indeed the manufacturers charged a hefty premium for variations, although in response to pressure, they later built a number of 'large jennies'.
Other manufacturers and railways also adopted the type. John Chester Craven
, Kirtley's successor at Brighton, built a class of five similar 'Jenny Lind singles' in 1853-4. An enlarged type was also built by Beyer, Peacock and Company
in 1860 to the Portugese South Western Railway]].
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 built in 1847 for the London Brighton and South Coast Railway by E. B. Wilson and Company
E. B. Wilson and Company
E.B.Wilson and Company was a locomotive manufacturing company at the Railway Foundry in Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.-Origins:When Todd left Todd, Kitson & Laird in 1838, he joined Shepherd in setting up the Railway Foundry as Shepherd and Todd...
of Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, named after Jenny Lind
Jenny Lind
Johanna Maria Lind , better known as Jenny Lind, was a Swedish opera singer, often known as the "Swedish Nightingale". One of the most highly regarded singers of the 19th century, she is known for her performances in soprano roles in opera in Sweden and across Europe, and for an extraordinarily...
who was a famous opera singer of the period. The general design proved to be very successful that the manufacturers adopted it for use on other railways, and it became the first mass-produced locomotive type. The 'Jenny Lind' type was also widely copied during the late 1840s and 1850s, and into the 1860s.
History
David JoyDavid Joy
David Frederick Joy was a former professional footballer, who played for Huddersfield Town and York City.-References:*99 Years & Counting - Stats & Stories - Huddersfield Town History...
, the Chief Draughtsman of E.B.Wilson, was asked to visit Brighton railway works
Brighton railway works
Brighton railway works was one of the earliest railway-owned locomotive repair works, founded in 1840 by the London and Brighton Railway in Brighton, England, and thus pre-dating the more famous railway works at Crewe, Doncaster and Swindon...
to make tracings of the drawings of a 2-2-2
2-2-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-2-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle two powered driving wheels on one axle, and two trailing wheels on one axle. The wheel arrangement both provided more stability and enabled a larger firebox...
locomotive designed by John Gray
John Gray (locomotive engineer)
John Gray was an early steam locomotive engineer who introduced several innovations in locomotive design during the 1830s and 1840s.-Career:John Gray's origins are unknown but he appears to have originated from Newcastle...
for the railway so that ten further examples could be built. However, before he had completed the task, Gray had been dismissed from his post of Locomotive Superintendent, and his successor Thomas Kirtley
Thomas Kirtley
Thomas Kirtley was locomotive superintendent of the North Midland Railway and later the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway.-Biography:...
did not favour Gray's complicated horse-leg motion. As a result it was left to Joy and James Fenton the works manager at E. B. Wilson to adapt the design. p.38-9. Joy had spent his formative years studying all the locomotives he came across, sketching them, making notes, and interrogating their owners and crews - and, if he could, getting rides on them.
As is usual in engineering, there were a number of trade-offs to be made in steam locomotive design. There is a limit to the rate that steam can be delivered to the pistons, therefore higher speed was obtained with larger driving wheels. These however limited the size of the boiler, since it needed to fit between them, particularly with the preoccupation of the time with a lower centre of gravity. The tendency had been to lengthen the boilers with supporting wheels front and rear. Thus passenger engines, such as the so-called Long Boiler locomotive
Long Boiler locomotive
The Long Boiler locomotive was the object of a patent by Robert Stephenson and the name became synonymous with the pattern.-History:It is generally perceived that it arose out of attempts to match the power of broad gauge locomotives within the limitations of the loading gauge of Stephenson railways...
s were usually of a 4-2-0
4-2-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-2-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles, two powered and coupled driving wheels on one axle, and no trailing wheels...
wheel arrangement. However too long a boiler also created instability. Some locomotives improved adhesion for heavier loads by coupling pairs of driving wheels, however there was a tendency for the wrought iron
Wrought iron
thumb|The [[Eiffel tower]] is constructed from [[puddle iron]], a form of wrought ironWrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon...
coupling rods to break especially at speed. Thus four and six-coupled locomotives were used for freight trains.
Joy and Fenton settled on a medium sized boiler, 800 sq ft (74.3 m²) heated surface area, with a pressure of 120 lbf/in2 and concentrated on its steaming abilities. In this, James Fenton had particular expertise. The engine had 15 by 20 in (381 by 508 mm) inside cylinders and 6 in 0 in (1.83 m) driving wheels. Gray's so-called 'mixed' frame had an inside frame for the cylinders and driving wheels, with inside bearings, and an outside frame for the 4 in 0 in (1.22 m) leading and trailing wheels, using outside bearings. The inside frame stopped at the firebox, so that the latter was as wide as the wheels would allow. By this means he minimised the overhang at each end.
After some strengthening of various members, the engine was three tons heavier than expected. However, it steamed freely and was economical on fuel. It was to this that its success was attributed, along with the increase in boiler pressure that had become possible over the years. However credit must be given to Joy's suspension arrangements that made it extremely smooth-running and stable. The name 'Jenny Lind' was given to the first one delivered to the London Brighton and South Coast Railway.
Jenny Lind type
The new class proved to be so successful that the design was used by Wilson's as their standard design and more than seventy examples were built for various railways, including twenty-four for the Midland RailwayMidland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
. It could be said to be the first to be mass-produced to a consistent pattern. Indeed the manufacturers charged a hefty premium for variations, although in response to pressure, they later built a number of 'large jennies'.
Other manufacturers and railways also adopted the type. John Chester Craven
John Chester Craven
John Chester Craven was the locomotive, carriage and wagon superintendent of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway from 1847 until his resignation in 1870....
, Kirtley's successor at Brighton, built a class of five similar 'Jenny Lind singles' in 1853-4. An enlarged type was also built by Beyer, Peacock and Company
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...
in 1860 to the Portugese South Western Railway]].