Foster, Rastrick and Company
Encyclopedia
Foster, Rastrick and Company was one of the pioneering steam locomotive
manufacturing companies of England. It was based in Stourbridge
, Worcestershire
, now West Midlands.
James Foster
, an ironmaster, and John Urpeth Rastrick
, an engineer, became partners in 1816, forming the company in 1819. Rastrick was one of the judges at the Rainhill Trials
in 1829.
The company built only four steam locomotives (each one having vertical cylinders, placed at the back and each side of the furnace, with grasshopper beams and connecting-rods from them to the crankpins in the four coupled wheels). Of these however, the Stourbridge Lion
built in 1828, was the first locomotive to be tried in America
. This engine and two others, Delaware and Hudson were ordered for the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company by its chief engineer while on a research visit to England, and arrived in New York in May 1829 for what became shortlived testing.
The fourth locomotive, Agenoria, was built for service on the Earl of Dudley's Shutt End Colliery Railway in Kingswinford
, Staffordshire
. It weighed 11 tons, had four coupled wheels of 4ft ¾in diameter and two cylinders of 8.5 inches diameter by 36 inches stroke.. Agenoria was probably the first locomotive to use mechanical lubrication for its axles. Unlike the company's first three steam locomotives it had a long life, being withdrawn from service in c.1864. It was presented to the Science Museum (London)
in 1884 and is now on permanent display at the National Railway Museum
in York
.
Although pioneering, the company's locomotive designs were almost immediately outdated upon the arrival in 1829 of George Stephenson
's Rocket
, the locomotive which virtually set the pattern for the rest of the steam age.. Ceasing locomotive work, the company was officially dissolved on 20 June 1831, its assets being absorbed into the Stourbridge Iron Works of John Bradley & Co. (iron manufacturer and owner of several coal mines), where James Foster was already the major partner and after 1832 the sole owner.
The original factory building in Lowndes Road where Stourbridge Lion and Agenoria were built is still standing, although near to collapse from a fire in 2004.
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...
manufacturing companies of England. It was based in Stourbridge
Stourbridge
Stourbridge is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, in the West Midlands of England. Historically part of Worcestershire, Stourbridge was a centre of glass making, and today includes the suburbs of Amblecote, Lye, Norton, Oldswinford, Pedmore, Wollaston, Wollescote and Wordsley The...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
, now West Midlands.
James Foster
James Foster (ironmaster)
James Foster was a prominent Worcestershire ironmaster and senior partner in the important iron company of John Bradley & Co., Stourbridge, taking its name from his elder half-brother. As well as the Stourbridge ironworks, the business owned a number of coal and ironstone mines, furnaces, forges...
, an ironmaster, and John Urpeth Rastrick
John Urpeth Rastrick
John Urpeth Rastrick was one of the first English steam locomotive builders. In partnership with James Foster, he formed Foster, Rastrick and Company, the locomotive construction company that built the Stourbridge Lion in 1829 for export to the Delaware and Hudson Railroad in America.-Early...
, an engineer, became partners in 1816, forming the company in 1819. Rastrick was one of the judges at the Rainhill Trials
Rainhill Trials
The Rainhill Trials were an important competition in the early days of steam locomotive railways, run in October 1829 in Rainhill, Lancashire for the nearly completed Liverpool and Manchester Railway....
in 1829.
The company built only four steam locomotives (each one having vertical cylinders, placed at the back and each side of the furnace, with grasshopper beams and connecting-rods from them to the crankpins in the four coupled wheels). Of these however, the Stourbridge Lion
Stourbridge Lion
The Stourbridge Lion was a railroad steam locomotive. It was not only the first locomotive to be operated in the United States, it was also one of the first locomotives to operate outside of England, where it was manufactured in 1828....
built in 1828, was the first locomotive to be tried in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. This engine and two others, Delaware and Hudson were ordered for the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company by its chief engineer while on a research visit to England, and arrived in New York in May 1829 for what became shortlived testing.
The fourth locomotive, Agenoria, was built for service on the Earl of Dudley's Shutt End Colliery Railway in Kingswinford
Kingswinford
Kingswinford is a suburban area in the West Midlands.Historically within Staffordshire, the area is mentioned in the Domesday Book its name relates to a ford for the King's swine - Latin Swinford Regis. The current significance is probably in tourism, education and housing...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
. It weighed 11 tons, had four coupled wheels of 4ft ¾in diameter and two cylinders of 8.5 inches diameter by 36 inches stroke.. Agenoria was probably the first locomotive to use mechanical lubrication for its axles. Unlike the company's first three steam locomotives it had a long life, being withdrawn from service in c.1864. It was presented to the Science Museum (London)
Science Museum (London)
The Science Museum is one of the three major museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is part of the National Museum of Science and Industry. The museum is a major London tourist attraction....
in 1884 and is now on permanent display at the National Railway Museum
National Railway Museum
The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001...
in York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
.
Although pioneering, the company's locomotive designs were almost immediately outdated upon the arrival in 1829 of George Stephenson
George Stephenson
George Stephenson was an English civil engineer and mechanical engineer who built the first public railway line in the world to use steam locomotives...
's Rocket
Stephenson's Rocket
Stephenson's Rocket was an early steam locomotive of 0-2-2 wheel arrangement, built in Newcastle Upon Tyne at the Forth Street Works of Robert Stephenson and Company in 1829.- Design innovations :...
, the locomotive which virtually set the pattern for the rest of the steam age.. Ceasing locomotive work, the company was officially dissolved on 20 June 1831, its assets being absorbed into the Stourbridge Iron Works of John Bradley & Co. (iron manufacturer and owner of several coal mines), where James Foster was already the major partner and after 1832 the sole owner.
The original factory building in Lowndes Road where Stourbridge Lion and Agenoria were built is still standing, although near to collapse from a fire in 2004.
Sources
- Brief biographies of major mechanical engineers. Retrieved February 9, 2005 – company overview.
- Senate House Library, University of London, John Bradley & Co (Stourbridge) Ltd., Ironfounders. Retrieved April 22, 2005 – verifies Foster family connections and company dates.
- Lowe, J.W., (1989) British Steam Locomotive Builders, Guild Publishing