Title
Highbridge Works Drawings
Reference
HIGHB
Production date
1875 - 1930
Creator
- Highbridge Locomotive WorksBiographyBiography
The Highbridge Works was originally set up in 1862 by the Somerset Central Railway when it converted to standard gauge. It developed in an unplanned way until the 1890s, when the then Locomotive Superintendent, Alfred Whitaker, carried out a substantial re-organisation. From 1875, as part of the joint leasing agreement, the Highbridge Works came under the control of the Midland Railway Locomotive Department in Derby.
The Works built only three locomotives of their own, relying mainly on private manufacturers until 1890 when Whitaker introduced the practice of supplying locomotives from Derby. The main locomotive work was therefore restricted to repairs and maintenance. Construction was largely restricted to a small number of carriage and wagon types.
From January 1930 the Highbridge Works was run down until final closure in May 1930. The buildings were left empty until taken over by the War Department during the Second World War. Most of the buildings were demolished, while the carriage and wagon department was destroyed by fire in the 1950s. Virtually the sole remnant consists of the War Memorial Tablet in the Garden of Remembrance at Highbridge.
Scope and Content
The collection comprises 39 locomotive drawings, 39 wagon drawings, 8 carriage drawings and a single drawing of a water wheel.
Extent
8 boxes
Physical description
Mixed linen, paper and blueprints, with some colour washed.
Language
English
Level of description
TOP
Repository name
National Railway Museum, York
Associated people and organisations
- Somerset & Dorset Joint Line RailwayBiographyBiography
The Somerset and Dorset Railway was originally founded from an amalgamation of the interests of the Somerset Railway (commenced 1854) with the Dorset Railway (commenced 1860) from 1862. In 1875, following financial problems, the lines were leased jointly to the Midland Railway and the London & South Western Railway, to become the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway Company. The company remained a separate, jointly managed enterprise following the major amalgamations in 1923 (between the London Midland and Scottish Railway and the Southern Railway) and nationalisation in 1948 (between the London Midland Region and the Southern Region). The company was finally closed by British Railways in 1966.
- Derby Locomotive WorksBiographyBiography
The site of Derby Locomotive Works (the Works) was acquired in 1840 and was originally a facility for the repair of the Midland Railway Company’s railway vehicles: locomotives, carriages and wagons. Locomotive building started in 1851. In 1873 the company relocated the carriage and wagon works to a new site at Litchurch Lane, concentrating locomotive operations at the Works. Eventually, the Works occupied an area of 51 acres. After Grouping the Works became one of two major locomotive factories operated by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) (the other being Crewe) and it continued to build locomotives following nationalisation. After 1947 the Works was initially part of the British Transport Commission – Workshops Division, subsequently passing to British Railways Board and then to British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) in 1970. BREL was privatised in 1989 and the Works closed in 1990.
The Works produced its first modern traction, an 0-6-0 diesel shunter, in 1934 and in 1947 built the first mainline diesel-electric locomotive, No. 10000. Locomotive building continued until 1979 along with maintenance and repair. In the later period the Works also manufactured bogies for all traction types and overhauled breakdown cranes for all regions. After privatisation the Works concentrated on supplying bogies and components; locomotive activity ceased.
Subject
Conditions governing access
Access is given in accordance with the NRM access policy. Material from this archive is available to researchers through the NRM Research Centre. The archive is fully open to researchers. Where items from this archive have been microfilmed, access is gained through the microfilm surrogate.
Conditions governing Reproduction
Copies may be supplied of items in the archive, provided that the copying process used does not damage the item or is not detrimental to its preservation. Copies will be supplied in accordance with the NRM’s terms and conditions for the supply and reproduction of copies, and the provisions of any relevant copyright legislation.
External document
Finding aids
A group of students from the Institute of Railway Studies created an unpublished descriptive catalogue in 1995, listing what drawings are available in two volumes: Locomotives and Carriage & Wagon. From this preliminary listing, staff from the National Railway Museum created a single definitive listing, rationalising storage and converting the list to a finding aid.
Related object
Appraisal
No appraisal of this archive has been undertaken
System of arrangement
The original numbering system is known. The drawings have therefore been listed, boxed and arranged separately between locomotives, carriages and wagons, each section in numerical order.
