Jump to content

User:Davidvaughanwells/Thomas Whitelegg

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thomas Whitelegg
Born1836-7
Died30 March 1911
London
NationalityBritish
OccupationEngineer
Engineering career
DisciplineMechanical engineering
Preserved LT&SR 79 Class locomotive Thundersley, designed by Thomas Whitelegg
Electrostar EMU number 357 029 named Thomas Whitelegg

Thomas Whitelegg was born around 1836-7 in Manchester England, Thomas died at his home in Highgate village in London on 30 March 1911, aged 74. Thomas was the Locomotive, Carriage & Wagon and Marine Superintendent for the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway which today is known as c2c.

Career

[edit]
Sharp Stewart and Company

He began his career as an engineering pupil at the locomotive manufacturering firm Sharp Stewart and Company in Manchester, later becoming a leading erector in that firm. Thomas would later erect a locomotive that was exhibited at the Manchester Exhibition of 1862.

Neilson and Company

He later went on to work for Neilson and Company at their Glasgow factory.

Hamilton Windsor Ironworks

His next appointment was at Hamilton Windsor Ironworks Co. in Garston, Liverpool, where he gained experience in marine engineering and design of pontoons and piers. It was in Garston that his son Robert Harben Whitelegg was born.

Ruston Proctor & Co

This was followed by a period of employment for Ruston Proctor & Co in Lincoln. Whilst he was there he worked on the designs of locomotives that were being built for the Great Eastern Railway (GER).

Great Eastern Railway

He then obtained employment in the drawing office of the GER Works at Stratford, London where he remained until September 1879.

London, Tilbury and Southend Railway

Next, he was then appointed as the Locomotive Carriage & Wagon and Marine Superintendent for the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway (LT&SR} at their Plaistow Works. He was in fact the first locomotive superintendent for the LT&SR because from its opening in 1854 until 1875 the line was worked by their contractors Peto, Brassey and Betts. From 1875 until Thomas was appointed the LT&SR rolling stock was hired from the GER. Thomas introduced the highly successful outside cylinder 4-4-2T type, starting with the LT&SR 1 Class, which became the mainstay of the LTSR passenger services.

Retirement

[edit]

Thomas retired in July 1910. Upon his retirement, his son Robert Whitelegg succeeded him as the Locomotive, Carriage & Wagon Superintendent

Recognition

[edit]

A British Rail Class 357 Electrostar EMU (number 357 029) currently operating on the c2c service from Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness is named in honour of Thomas Whitelegg.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]


First Locomotive Superintendent of the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway
1880–1910
Succeeded by


Category:People from Manchester Category:1911 deaths Category:1836 births Category:English mechanical engineers Category:Locomotive builders and designers Category:London, Tilbury and Southend Railway