Thomas Kirtley
Encyclopedia
Thomas Kirtley was locomotive superintendent of the North Midland Railway
and later the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
.
, and began his career as an engine driver on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway
with his brother of Matthew Kirtley
. He founded the locomotive builder Thomas Kirtley and Co. of Warrington
in 1837, but this company failed in 1841. After briefly working for his brother on the Warrington and Newton Railway
he was appointed locomotive superintendent of the North Midland Railway
in 1843, but lost his role at the formation of the Midland Railway
in May 1844 and served as an inspector. In 1845 he worked for the Trent Valley Railway for Thomas Brassey
. In February 1847 he was appointed Locomotive Superintendent of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
following the dismissal of John Gray
, but nine months later he suffered a brain tumour and died.
North Midland Railway
The North Midland Railway was a British railway company, which opened its line from Derby to Rotherham and Leeds in 1840.At Derby it connected with the Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway and the Midland Counties Railway at what became known as the Tri Junct Station...
and later the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1846 to 1922. Its territory formed a rough triangle, with London at its apex, practically the whole coastline of Sussex as its base, and a large part of Surrey...
.
Biography
He was born at TanfieldTanfield
Tanfield may refer to:*Francis Tanfield , Proprietary Governor of the South Falkland colony*Tanfield, Durham, a village in County Durham, England*Tanfield Railway, a tourist attraction in County Durham, England...
, and began his career as an engine driver on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway
Liverpool and Manchester Railway
The Liverpool and Manchester Railway was the world's first inter-city passenger railway in which all the trains were timetabled and were hauled for most of the distance solely by steam locomotives. The line opened on 15 September 1830 and ran between the cities of Liverpool and Manchester in North...
with his brother of Matthew Kirtley
Matthew Kirtley
Matthew Kirtley was an important early locomotive engineer. His brother Thomas Kirtley was also a locomotive engineer as was his nephew, William Kirtley, who served as locomotive superintendent on the London, Chatham and Dover Railway, 1874-1898.Kirtley was born in February 1813 at Tanfield,...
. He founded the locomotive builder Thomas Kirtley and Co. of Warrington
Warrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
in 1837, but this company failed in 1841. After briefly working for his brother on the Warrington and Newton Railway
Warrington and Newton Railway
The Warrington and Newton Railway was an early railway company in England. It acted as a feeder to the original Liverpool and Manchester Railway , providing services from those two cities to and from Warrington...
he was appointed locomotive superintendent of the North Midland Railway
North Midland Railway
The North Midland Railway was a British railway company, which opened its line from Derby to Rotherham and Leeds in 1840.At Derby it connected with the Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway and the Midland Counties Railway at what became known as the Tri Junct Station...
in 1843, but lost his role at the formation of the Midland Railway
Midland 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....
in May 1844 and served as an inspector. In 1845 he worked for the Trent Valley Railway for Thomas Brassey
Thomas Brassey
Thomas Brassey was an English civil engineering contractor and manufacturer of building materials who was responsible for building much of the world's railways in the 19th century. By 1847, he had built about one-third of the railways in Britain, and by time of his death in 1870 he had built one...
. In February 1847 he was appointed Locomotive Superintendent of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1846 to 1922. Its territory formed a rough triangle, with London at its apex, practically the whole coastline of Sussex as its base, and a large part of Surrey...
following the dismissal of 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...
, but nine months later he suffered a brain tumour and died.