Crampton Gallery
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No. 81 on a Folkestone express near Penshurst
The straight, level stretches of line between Redhill, Tonbridge and Ashford were ideal for the Crampton locomotives to run at full speed.
The Folkestone express delayed near Staplehurst
Despite being straight, level and well-engineered, the S.E.R. line to the Kent coast, like other railways at that time, was often subject to delays due to the numerous farm crossings accommodating well-established rights of way. As time passed, the company was forced to invest in more and more bridges to avoid delays.
The boiler shop at Tulk & Ley works, 1846
The 1840’s and 50’s saw the creation of the first heavy industries in Britain and Europe. Hitherto, large engineering items were manufactured by means of alliances of varying duration between local craftsmen. It rapidly became clear that larger, better organized firms were essential to ensure efficient production and accurate measurements. Tulk & Ley of Whitehaven were one of the first such organisations, and their larger size enabled them to invest in the new machinery required.
Liverpool on display at the Great Exhibition of 1851
Thomas Crampton gained valuable publicity from the Great Exhibition, exhibiting two locomotives ( three if one credits him for producing all the working drawings for the G.W.R. ‘FireFly’ ) and announcing at the closing ceremony that his cross-Channel telegraph cable had sent and received its first London – Paris messages. ‘Liverpool’ was thought to be the most powerful locomotive in Britain at the time, and had completed several successful runs during which speeds of well over 75mph were reached.
Experimental Prototypes
Crampton was fortunate to number James McConnell, Chief Engineer of the London & North Western Railway, among his friends. They collaborated on a number of prototype projects, including ‘Comet’, and later ‘Liverpool’ which won a gold medal at the Great Exhibition, bringing credit to the L&NWR. Sadly, the L&NWR main routes possessed too many steep gradients and sharp curves to enable Crampton locomotives to give o their best. Here, we see one of Crampton’s more extreme designs, submitted to McConnell but tactfully ( and probably wisely ) forgotten. Here it is at Chalk Farm, near the top of Camden Bank.
Inside cylinder locomotives for the South Eastern Railway
The S.E.R. became the only British railway to use Cramptons regularly on its expresses, but became concerned about restricted clearances on some of its lines. At the same time, rolled steel sheet technology had advanced sufficiently to for smaller boilers at a higher steam pressure to safely deliver enough power. Accordingly, Crampton produced a new design in which a smaller, higher boiler enabled cylinders and valve gear, driven by a jackshaft, to be placed between the frames, producing a narrower locomotive. The first of these locomotives, named ‘Folkstone’ ( spelt incorrectly! ) was exhibited along with ‘Liverpool’ at the 1851 Great Exhibition. The class of 12 were built by Robert Stephenson Ltd. and proved a great success. Later, they were rebuilt as rather handsome 2-4-0’s.
No.90, ‘L’Amerique’, at speed near Stasbourg
Built by the modern heavy engineering works of J.&F. Cail in Paris, these locomotives revolutionized express services on the Nord and Est lines of France, as well as the P.L.M. On the Nord and Est, the long straight, level and well-engineered were ideal for Cramptons, and speeds in the high 70’s were normal, forging the industrial and commercial cities into a powerful, efficient network. Soon, ‘Crampton’ became a generic word for ‘express’.
Bavarian State Railways ‘Maxburg’
As Germany moved towards unification, the more industrialised states quickly developed a complex rail network serving the main cities. Particularly in the north, the flat, level countryside favoured the Crampton patent, and firms such as Maffei quickly developed their own versions. Surprisingly, most German Cramptons favoured the older oval boiler type. Like their French counterparts, they were a resounding success on expresses.
A Cail-built Crampton on a Cairo to Alexandria express
J.&F. Cail were soon exporting Cramptons to French dependencies such as Egypt. The small inspection locomotive, also a Crampton, was, surprisingly, built by Robert Stephenson Ltd.
St. Petersburg – Warsaw Crampton 174 reversing at Riga
When the Russian railway Ministry proposed a railway linking St. Petersburg with Warsaw, running through all the Baltic capitals, the level terrain and long, straight stretches again led to Crampton locomotives being chosen to head the principal expresses. J.&F. Cail were again awarded the contract, and modified their design to burn logs and incorporate a cold weather cab and inspection walkways.
A Camden and Amboy Railroad Crampton waits at Amboy
The first Isaac Dripps Crampton appeared in 1849 and six more were built up to 1852. From the outset, it was clear that they had a numer of serious design faults. The cylinders would not deliver sufficient power, not helped by the fact that the firebox was too small and had to burn anthracite, a type of coal that burned quickly at high temperatures and was more suited to central heating systems. The 8’ driving wheels took far too long to reach a reasonable speed, and the trackwork was of poor quality. All were rebuilt with 2 coupled pairs of 6’ drivers, but all were scrapped by 1865.
Great Northern Railway of New Zealand – No.3, ‘Oreti’, ploughs into the timber rails
In 1864, an unusual railway opened between Invercargill and Makarewa in South Island. A line was needed to serve mines and carry passengers, but little money was available. James R. Davies, an Australian, had built the Ballerat and Geelong Railway with wooden rails and inner guide wheels angled at 45 degrees. He held the Crampton Patent, and others for wagons and coaches. The line was built, but as soon as rain fell, the trains slipped on the wet timber. They could only move at a snail’s pace, and the line soon became a local joke. Three years later, the line was closed, broken up and the locomotives used to poser farm machinery and a local sawmill.