Tulk and Ley
Encyclopedia
Tulk and Ley was a 19th century iron mining company in west Cumbria
which also ran an engineering works at Lowca
near Whitehaven
.
ironworks- the firm was taken over by iron-mining firm Tulk, Ley & Co. about 1837. Ley was an absentee investor, the driving force behind the enterprise being engineer John Augustus Tulk. His decision to concentrate on finished goods rather than simple foundry products swiftly paid off, with orders for locomotive
s from the new Maryport and Carlisle Railway
. The first two were a 2-2-2
and an 0-6-0
, with a further 2-2-2
in 1843. They then built a number of 0-4-2
locos for various Northern railways. They also attempted to move into the shipbuilding business in 1842-3, producing Lowca, the first iron ship ever launched in Cumberland. Tulk's engineering specialist, a Mr Matthewson from the Tay Ironworks at Dundee
, invented an improved mechanism for loading coal onto ships at Whitehaven
, and other products included boilers and a machine for cutting iron plates (used in construction of the Lowca).
for the Namur and Liege Railway. The order was undelivered because the railway was not ready. Namur was tested by the LNWR
who were considering their purchase. In the end the first three Crampton locomotives were all acquired by the South Eastern Railway
. Two more were sold to the Dundee and Perth and Aberdeen Junction Railway, one to the Maryport and Carlisle Railway
and two for the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway
. The LNWR bought a somewhat larger engine in 1847, which was reported to have reached 72mph. The rough riding that was typical of Crampton locos, and difficulties with steaming, meant that they did not stay long in service, although they were more successful on the continent, and were an important step in the development of standard gauge railways.
Crampton-type locomotives built by Tulk and Ley, all of 4-2-0
wheel arrangement:
Notes
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
which also ran an engineering works at Lowca
Lowca
Lowca is a village and civil parish in the English county of Cumbria. It was formerly a mining area but is now noted for its wind farm.In 1800, brothers Adam, Thomas and Crosby Heslop, formerly associated with the ironworks at Seaton near Workington established an iron foundry and engineering...
near Whitehaven
Whitehaven
Whitehaven is a small town and port on the coast of Cumbria, England, which lies equidistant between the county's two largest settlements, Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness, and is served by the Cumbrian Coast Line and the A595 road...
.
Overview
Established on the Lowca site in 1800 as "Heslops, Milward, Johnston & Co."- the engineering and ironfounding expertise coming from the brothers Adam, Thomas & Crosby Heslop, formerly associated with the SeatonSeaton, Cumbria
Seaton is a civil parish and one of the largest villages in England, housing 4,861 people. Historically a part of Cumberland, it is situated next to the town of Workington and the village of Camerton along the River Derwent and dates back at least to Medieval times. It forms part of the Borough...
ironworks- the firm was taken over by iron-mining firm Tulk, Ley & Co. about 1837. Ley was an absentee investor, the driving force behind the enterprise being engineer John Augustus Tulk. His decision to concentrate on finished goods rather than simple foundry products swiftly paid off, with orders for locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
s from the new Maryport and Carlisle Railway
Maryport and Carlisle Railway
The Maryport & Carlisle Railway was a small but highly profitable railway formed in 1836 to connect the town of Maryport to the county town of Carlisle and to allow the output of collieries inland of Maryport to be more cheaply transported to Maryport for oward movement by sea. Its headquarters...
. The first two were a 2-2-2
2-2-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-2-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle two powered driving wheels on one axle, and two trailing wheels on one axle. The wheel arrangement both provided more stability and enabled a larger firebox...
and an 0-6-0
0-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...
, with a further 2-2-2
2-2-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-2-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle two powered driving wheels on one axle, and two trailing wheels on one axle. The wheel arrangement both provided more stability and enabled a larger firebox...
in 1843. They then built a number of 0-4-2
0-4-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-2 represents the wheel arrangement with no leading wheels, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
locos for various Northern railways. They also attempted to move into the shipbuilding business in 1842-3, producing Lowca, the first iron ship ever launched in Cumberland. Tulk's engineering specialist, a Mr Matthewson from the Tay Ironworks at Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
, invented an improved mechanism for loading coal onto ships at Whitehaven
Whitehaven
Whitehaven is a small town and port on the coast of Cumbria, England, which lies equidistant between the county's two largest settlements, Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness, and is served by the Cumbrian Coast Line and the A595 road...
, and other products included boilers and a machine for cutting iron plates (used in construction of the Lowca).
Crampton locomotives
One of Lowca's most significant achievements was the construction of the first Crampton locomotive. From 1847 they built a number of engines to the Crampton pattern, the first two, Namur and Liege, being ordered in 1845 by G and J RennieGeorge Rennie (engineer)
George Rennie was an engineer born in London, England. He was the son of the Scottish engineer John Rennie and the brother of Sir John Rennie.-Early life:...
for the Namur and Liege Railway. The order was undelivered because the railway was not ready. Namur was tested by the LNWR
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
who were considering their purchase. In the end the first three Crampton locomotives were all acquired by the South Eastern Railway
South Eastern Railway (UK)
The South Eastern Railway was a railway company in south-eastern England from 1836 until 1922. The company was formed to construct a route from London to Dover. Branch lines were later opened to Tunbridge Wells, Hastings, Canterbury and other places in Kent...
. Two more were sold to the Dundee and Perth and Aberdeen Junction Railway, one to the Maryport and Carlisle Railway
Maryport and Carlisle Railway
The Maryport & Carlisle Railway was a small but highly profitable railway formed in 1836 to connect the town of Maryport to the county town of Carlisle and to allow the output of collieries inland of Maryport to be more cheaply transported to Maryport for oward movement by sea. Its headquarters...
and two for the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway
Sheffield, Ashton-Under-Lyne and Manchester Railway
The Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway was an early British railway company which opened in stages between 1841 and 1845 between Sheffield and Manchester via Ashton-under-Lyne...
. The LNWR bought a somewhat larger engine in 1847, which was reported to have reached 72mph. The rough riding that was typical of Crampton locos, and difficulties with steaming, meant that they did not stay long in service, although they were more successful on the continent, and were an important step in the development of standard gauge railways.
Crampton-type locomotives built by Tulk and Ley, all of 4-2-0
4-2-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-2-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles, two powered and coupled driving wheels on one axle, and no trailing wheels...
wheel arrangement:
| Date built | Works no. | Railway | Name/no. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1846 | 10 | Namur and Liege Railway | Namur | (1) |
| 1846 | 11 | Namur and Liege Railway | Liege | (1) |
| 1846 | 12 | LNWR | London | (2) |
| 1847 | 14 | D&P&AJR | Kinnaird | (3) |
| 1847 | 13 | South Eastern Railway (UK) South Eastern Railway (UK) The South Eastern Railway was a railway company in south-eastern England from 1836 until 1922. The company was formed to construct a route from London to Dover. Branch lines were later opened to Tunbridge Wells, Hastings, Canterbury and other places in Kent... |
81 | |
| 1847 | 15 | South Eastern Railway (UK) | 83 | |
| 1847 | 16 | South Eastern Railway (UK) | 85 | |
| 1854 | 17 | Maryport and Carlisle Railway Maryport and Carlisle Railway The Maryport & Carlisle Railway was a small but highly profitable railway formed in 1836 to connect the town of Maryport to the county town of Carlisle and to allow the output of collieries inland of Maryport to be more cheaply transported to Maryport for oward movement by sea. Its headquarters... |
12 | (4) |
Notes
- Namur was tested on the London and North Western Railway and speeds up to 62 mph were recorded. Delivery of Namur and Liege to Belgium was delayed and their final destination is uncertain
- The LNWR obtained two other Crampton-type locomotives: Courier, 4-2-0, built at Crewe WorksCrewe WorksCrewe railway works is a British railway engineering facility built in 1840 by the Grand Junction Railway. It is located in the town of Crewe, in the county of Cheshire....
in 1847 and Liverpool, 6-2-06-2-0In the Whyte notation, a 6-2-0 is a railroad steam locomotive that has an unpowered three-axle leading truck followed by a single powered driving axle...
, built by Bury, Curtis, and KennedyBury, Curtis, and KennedyBury, Curtis and Kennedy was a steam locomotive manufacturer in Liverpool, England.Edward Bury set up his works in 1826, under the name of Edward Bury and Company. He employed James Kennedy, who had gained experience of locomotive production under Robert Stephenson and Mather, Dixon and Company,...
in 1848 - Dundee and Perth and Aberdeen Junction Railway, absorbed by the Scottish Central RailwayScottish Central RailwayThe Scottish Central Railway was formed in 1845 to link the Caledonian Railway near Castlecary to the Scottish Midland Junction Railway at Perth...
in 1863 - It is curious that (judging by consecutive works numbers) Tulk and Ley apparently built no locomotives between 1847 and 1854
Fletcher Jennings
By 1857 around twenty engines had been built and the company was taken over by Fletcher, Jennings & Co.Fletcher, Jennings & Co.
Fletcher, Jennings & Co. was an engineering company at Lowca near Whitehaven, Cumbria, England.-Overview:Fletcher and Jennings took over the business of Tulk and Ley in 1857...