Daniel Kinnear Clark
Encyclopedia
Daniel Kinnear Clark was a Scottish consulting railway engineer. He served as Locomotive Superintendent to the Great North of Scotland Railway
between 1853 and 1855, and also wrote comprehensive books on railway engineering matters.
on 17 July 1822. He served an apprenticeship with Thomas Edgington & Son, a Glasgow
ironworks. He then worked for another private firm, followed by the North British Railway
. In 1851, he set up as a consulting engineer in London
; he was 30 years old. He became a Member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers in 1854.
The Great North of Scotland Railway
(GNoSR) had been established in 1845 with the aim of building a railway to connect Aberdeen
with Inverness
. Although authorised in 1846, construction did not begin until 1852, with the first section of line being opened in 1854. While the line was still under construction, it became necessary to consider the provision of locomotives in time for the opening. Workshops at Kittybrewster
for the repair of locomotives were under construction, and Clark was appointed Superintendent of the Locomotive Works in October 1853. For the opening of the line, he designed two basically similar classes of 2-4-0
tender locomotives, one with driving wheels 5 in 6 in (1.68 m) in diameter for passenger service, and the other, for goods trains, having 5 feet (1.5 m) driving wheels. Seven passenger engines and five goods were ordered from William Fairbairn & Sons
of Manchester
, since Kittybrewster Works was not intended for locomotive construction: no new engines were built there until 1887. The first section of the line (from to ) was opened for traffic on 12 September 1854, but by October only five of the passenger engines had been delivered, and just two more had arrived by the time of his resignation; the five goods engines arrived a few months later.
At his appointment, the GNoSR had made it a condition that Clark should live in Aberdeen
, in order to be close to his duties; but he felt that living in northern Scotland 'would be inimical to his advancement in his profession', preferring to work through an assistant based at Kittybrewster. A dispute with the GNoSR board ensued, and Clark resigned in March 1855. His replacement, J. F. Ruthven, had been works foreman under Clark. He also had a short tenure, and when he in turn resigned in May 1857, he too became a consultant, and often worked with Clark.
Clark returned to consultancy, and patented a device for preventing smoke from being emitted when coal
was burned in locomotive fireboxes. The primary feature of this device was a series of air inlets in the firebox sides, air being forced in by steam jets when the regulator was closed. It was invented in 1857, tried out by the North London Railway
and the Eastern Counties Railway
, and following further trials in 1858 by Clark's former employer, the GNoSR, was adopted in 1859 as a standard fitting by the latter railway. It was used on all GNoSR locomotives built during the terms of office of Clark's successors Ruthven (1855–1857) and William Cowan (1857–1883), and was still being fitted to new engines as late as 1890 by Cowan's successor James Manson, although in modified form.
Clark wrote several books including the two-volume Railway Machinery, which was considered an authoritative text when it was published in 1855. He became a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers
on 27 January 1863.
Clark died in London on 22 January 1896.
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...
between 1853 and 1855, and also wrote comprehensive books on railway engineering matters.
Biography
Clark was born at EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
on 17 July 1822. He served an apprenticeship with Thomas Edgington & Son, a Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
ironworks. He then worked for another private firm, followed by the North British Railway
North British Railway
The North British Railway was a Scottish railway company that was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923.-History:...
. In 1851, he set up as a consulting engineer in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
; he was 30 years old. He became a Member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers in 1854.
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) had been established in 1845 with the aim of building a railway to connect Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
with Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
. Although authorised in 1846, construction did not begin until 1852, with the first section of line being opened in 1854. While the line was still under construction, it became necessary to consider the provision of locomotives in time for the opening. Workshops at Kittybrewster
Kittybrewster
Kittybrewster is an area within Aberdeen, Scotland, north of the city centre and roughly south-west of Old Aberdeen.-Transport:Within the area the A9012 road joins the A978 road; there are also several railway tracks, one of which follows the route of the Aberdeenshire Canal...
for the repair of locomotives were under construction, and Clark was appointed Superintendent of the Locomotive Works in October 1853. For the opening of the line, he designed two basically similar classes of 2-4-0
2-4-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels....
tender locomotives, one with driving wheels 5 in 6 in (1.68 m) in diameter for passenger service, and the other, for goods trains, having 5 feet (1.5 m) driving wheels. Seven passenger engines and five goods were ordered from William Fairbairn & Sons
William Fairbairn & Sons
William Fairbairn and Sons, was an engineering works in Manchester, England.-History:William Fairbairn opened an iron foundry in 1816 and was joined the following year by a Mr. Lillie, and the firm became known as Fairbairn and Lillie Engine Makers, producing iron steamboats.Their foundry and...
of Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, since Kittybrewster Works was not intended for locomotive construction: no new engines were built there until 1887. The first section of the line (from to ) was opened for traffic on 12 September 1854, but by October only five of the passenger engines had been delivered, and just two more had arrived by the time of his resignation; the five goods engines arrived a few months later.
At his appointment, the GNoSR had made it a condition that Clark should live in Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, in order to be close to his duties; but he felt that living in northern Scotland 'would be inimical to his advancement in his profession', preferring to work through an assistant based at Kittybrewster. A dispute with the GNoSR board ensued, and Clark resigned in March 1855. His replacement, J. F. Ruthven, had been works foreman under Clark. He also had a short tenure, and when he in turn resigned in May 1857, he too became a consultant, and often worked with Clark.
Clark returned to consultancy, and patented a device for preventing smoke from being emitted when coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
was burned in locomotive fireboxes. The primary feature of this device was a series of air inlets in the firebox sides, air being forced in by steam jets when the regulator was closed. It was invented in 1857, tried out by the North London Railway
North London Railway
The North London Railway was a railway company that opened lines connecting the north of London to the East and West India Docks. The main east to west route is now part the North London Line. Other lines operated by the company fell into disuse, but were later revived as part of the Docklands...
and the Eastern Counties Railway
Eastern Counties Railway
The Eastern Counties Railway was an early English railway company incorporated in 1836. It was intended to link London with Ipswich via Colchester, and then on to Norwich and Yarmouth. Construction began in late March 1837 on the first nine miles, at the London end of the line.Construction was...
, and following further trials in 1858 by Clark's former employer, the GNoSR, was adopted in 1859 as a standard fitting by the latter railway. It was used on all GNoSR locomotives built during the terms of office of Clark's successors Ruthven (1855–1857) and William Cowan (1857–1883), and was still being fitted to new engines as late as 1890 by Cowan's successor James Manson, although in modified form.
Clark wrote several books including the two-volume Railway Machinery, which was considered an authoritative text when it was published in 1855. He became 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...
on 27 January 1863.
Clark died in London on 22 January 1896.