Bowman Malcolm
Encyclopedia
Bowman Malcom was an Irish railway engineer. He became Locomotive Superintendent of the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway (BNCR) at the age of 22 and later took on the additional role of Civil Engineer. He was an advocate of compound locomotives which he introduced to the BNCR.
minister, Bowman Malcolm was born at Chester
in north-west England. Following the death of his father at an early age, however, the family returned to its roots in Belfast
. He was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution
(RBAI) and Belfast Royal Academy
(BRA).
Malcolm joined the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway at the age of 16 in 1870 as a pupil in the Locomotive Engineer's office. That he made tremendous headway with his employers is demonstrated by the fact that when the Locomotive Superintendent, Robert Findlay, resigned due to ill health in 1876, Malcolm was appointed to succeed him in this responsible position aged only 22 years.
In this role he directed the construction and rebuilding of locomotives, coaches and goods wagons and the introduction of the von Borries
two-cylinder compound locomotive
to the BNCR. During his tenure he oversaw the fitting of the automatic vacuum brake
to all passenger stock.
The continuing confidence that the Directors had in Malcolm's ability was shown when he was additionally appointed Chief Civil Engineer to the Northern Counties Committee
(NCC) of the Midland Railway
(which the BNCR had become) in 1906. He also filled a similar position for the Donegal Railway.
A member of the Council of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Malcolm was also a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers
and a past President of the Belfast Association of Engineers. Other professional affiliations included the Association of Railway and Locomotive Engineers and the Permanent Way Institution
.
He retired from the NCC at the end of 1922, having completed 52 years service with the company, of which 46 years had been as Locomotive Superintendent.
Bowman Malcolm was married to Miss Mongomery of Donegal.
Besides his railway career, Malcolm was interested in educational matters and was a deputy governor of one of his old schools, RBAI. For many years he had also been on the Governing Committee of the Fountain Street School in Belfast.
Bowman Malcolm died at his home in Belfast in January 1933 aged 78. He was survived by his widow and two daughters.
s had been performing sterling service on express trains in Prussia
. Thomas Worsdell
had followed up the idea on the Great Eastern
and North Eastern
railways in England and Bowman Malcolm was to bring it to Ireland.
An extensive stud of these two-cylinder compound locomotives was created for the BNCR. There were "Heavy Compounds" and "Light Compounds" which included small 2-4-0s with a peculiarly truncated appearance. Noteworthy were the two Class D 4-4-0s Jubilee and Parkmount which had 7 feet (2.1 m). A 2-4-2T version, Class S
, was designed for the narrow gauge Ballymena and Larne and the Retreat lines. A good number of these locomotives were to survive throughout the LMS NCC period although many were rebuilt to two-cylinder simple expansion.
Malcolm was interested in steam brakes and took out several patents for improvements to this type of brake.
On the civil engineering side, Bowman Malcolm's greatest achievement must be the railway bridge over the River Bann
at Coleraine
which opened in March 1924. This was built to replace an older bridge dating from 1860. The construction of this 800 feet (243.8 m) was carried out to his design and largely under his supervision. It included an opening span on the Strauss underhung bascule principle
that was to be the first application of its type in the United Kingdom.
Biography
The son of a UnitarianUnitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
minister, Bowman Malcolm was born at Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
in north-west England. Following the death of his father at an early age, however, the family returned to its roots in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. He was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution, is a Grammar School in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Locally referred to as Inst, the school educates boys from ages 11–18...
(RBAI) and Belfast Royal Academy
Belfast Royal Academy
The Belfast Royal Academy is the oldest school in the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is a co-educational, non-denominational voluntary grammar school situated in north Belfast. The Academy is one of eight Northern Irish schools whose Headmaster is a member of the Headmasters' and...
(BRA).
Malcolm joined the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway at the age of 16 in 1870 as a pupil in the Locomotive Engineer's office. That he made tremendous headway with his employers is demonstrated by the fact that when the Locomotive Superintendent, Robert Findlay, resigned due to ill health in 1876, Malcolm was appointed to succeed him in this responsible position aged only 22 years.
In this role he directed the construction and rebuilding of locomotives, coaches and goods wagons and the introduction of the von Borries
August von Borries
August Friedrich Wilhelm von Borries was one of Germany's most influential railway engineers, who was primarily concerned with developments in steam locomotives....
two-cylinder compound locomotive
Compound locomotive
A compound engine unit is a type of steam engine where steam is expanded in two or more stages.A typical arrangement for a compound engine is that the steam is first expanded in a high-pressure cylinder, then having given up heat and losing pressure, it exhausts directly into one or more larger...
to the BNCR. During his tenure he oversaw the fitting of the automatic vacuum brake
Vacuum brake
The vacuum brake is a braking system employed on trains and introduced in the mid-1860s. A variant, the automatic vacuum brake system, became almost universal in British train equipment and in those countries influenced by British practice. Vacuum brakes also enjoyed a brief period of adoption in...
to all passenger stock.
The continuing confidence that the Directors had in Malcolm's ability was shown when he was additionally appointed Chief Civil Engineer to the Northern Counties Committee
Northern Counties Committee
The Northern Counties Committee was a railway that served the north-east of Ireland. It was built to Irish gauge but later acquired a number of narrow gauge lines...
(NCC) 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....
(which the BNCR had become) in 1906. He also filled a similar position for the Donegal Railway.
A member of the Council of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Malcolm was also a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers
Institution of Civil Engineers
Founded on 2 January 1818, the Institution of Civil Engineers is an independent professional association, based in central London, representing civil engineering. Like its early membership, the majority of its current members are British engineers, but it also has members in more than 150...
and a past President of the Belfast Association of Engineers. Other professional affiliations included the Association of Railway and Locomotive Engineers and the Permanent Way Institution
Permanent Way Institution
The Permanent Way Institution is a specialist society interested in the dissemination of railway permanent way knowledge and techniques amongst interested parties at all levels from the trackmen to the civil engineers. It was founded in 1884 and now has over 7500 members throughout Commonwealth of...
.
He retired from the NCC at the end of 1922, having completed 52 years service with the company, of which 46 years had been as Locomotive Superintendent.
Bowman Malcolm was married to Miss Mongomery of Donegal.
Besides his railway career, Malcolm was interested in educational matters and was a deputy governor of one of his old schools, RBAI. For many years he had also been on the Governing Committee of the Fountain Street School in Belfast.
Bowman Malcolm died at his home in Belfast in January 1933 aged 78. He was survived by his widow and two daughters.
Engineering achievements
Bowman Malcolm shrewdly took an interest in international engineering developments and he saw what von Borries was doing in Germany. Two-cylinder von Borries compound locomotiveCompound locomotive
A compound engine unit is a type of steam engine where steam is expanded in two or more stages.A typical arrangement for a compound engine is that the steam is first expanded in a high-pressure cylinder, then having given up heat and losing pressure, it exhausts directly into one or more larger...
s had been performing sterling service on express trains in Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
. Thomas Worsdell
Thomas William Worsdell
Thomas William Worsdell was a British locomotive engineer. He was born in Liverpool into a Quaker family.-Family:...
had followed up the idea on the Great Eastern
Great Eastern Railway
The Great Eastern Railway was a pre-grouping British railway company, whose main line linked London Liverpool Street to Norwich and which had other lines through East Anglia...
and North Eastern
North Eastern Railway (UK)
The North Eastern Railway , was an English railway company. It was incorporated in 1854, when four existing companies were combined, and was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923...
railways in England and Bowman Malcolm was to bring it to Ireland.
An extensive stud of these two-cylinder compound locomotives was created for the BNCR. There were "Heavy Compounds" and "Light Compounds" which included small 2-4-0s with a peculiarly truncated appearance. Noteworthy were the two Class D 4-4-0s Jubilee and Parkmount which had 7 feet (2.1 m). A 2-4-2T version, Class S
BNCR Class S
The Belfast and Northern Counties Railway Class S was a class of 2-4-2T two-cylinder compound steam locomotives that was introduced for service on the 3ft narrow gauge railways of County Antrim in north-east Ireland.- History :...
, was designed for the narrow gauge Ballymena and Larne and the Retreat lines. A good number of these locomotives were to survive throughout the LMS NCC period although many were rebuilt to two-cylinder simple expansion.
Malcolm was interested in steam brakes and took out several patents for improvements to this type of brake.
On the civil engineering side, Bowman Malcolm's greatest achievement must be the railway bridge over the River Bann
River Bann
The River Bann is the longest river in Northern Ireland, the total length being 80 miles . The river winds its way from the south east corner of Northern Ireland to the north west coast, pausing in the middle to widen into the enormous Lough Neagh...
at Coleraine
Coleraine
Coleraine is a large town near the mouth of the River Bann in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is northwest of Belfast and east of Derry, both of which are linked by major roads and railway connections...
which opened in March 1924. This was built to replace an older bridge dating from 1860. The construction of this 800 feet (243.8 m) was carried out to his design and largely under his supervision. It included an opening span on the Strauss underhung bascule principle
Bascule bridge
A bascule bridge is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span, or "leaf," throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for boat traffic....
that was to be the first application of its type in the United Kingdom.