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Kevin Jones' Steam Index

Gateshead & Darlington Engineers

Gold, G.C.
Appointed Works Manager, Darlington, by Edward Thompson in 1943: involved in design of B1. Rogers Thompson & Peppercorn. Appointed Mechanical Engineer, Gorton in 1945: Locomotive Mag., 1945, 51, 110. Further move to Stratford in 1947:, Locomotive Mag., 1947, 53, 15.

Haswell, John Armstrong
Born in Fatfield, Durham on 16 Jiuly 1820; died 19 August 1894. His five children were born in Gateshead. Grace's Guide describes him as Locomotive  Superintendent North Eastern Railway. He represented the North Eastern on the four man committee observing the Edinburgh to Glasgow brake trails of 1876 

Heppell, George
My own memoirs published by NERA below tells us that he was born at Westmoor Colliery on 24 April 1851. He died on 30 January 1934. Chief Locomotive Draughtsman at Darlington, NER. He had been apprenticed at Robert Stephenson & Co in Newcastle and became Leading Draughtsman in Drawing Office. He moved to Hawthorns in late 1882 where designs for narrow gauge 2-6-0 and 2-6-2T designs for South America bear his signature (25 July 1883). He then moved to the NER at Gateshead under Alexander McDonnell and the Chief Draughtsman, Walter Mackersie Smith. There was friction between the two men, but following the death of Smith in 1906 Heppell became Chief Draughtsman of the NER at Darlington. The 5ft 6in boiler was undoubtedly Heppell's contribution and the Z class Atlantics may be regarded as his magnus opus. He retired in July 1919 to Romanby near Northallerton.. See article by Atkins in Backtrack 14 502 and Rutherford  (Backtrack 13, 38). Atkins, Philip. Br. Rly. J. North Eastern Rly Spec. Issue, 2005?, 8-21. implies that latterly he led a very laid back existence, although he remained a working draughtsman almost until his retirement. Heppell not mentioned in index to Everett's book
George Heppell. North Eastern locomotives: a draughtsman's life. North Eastern Railway Association. 2012. 28pp. 3 colour illustrations on cover. 16 illustrations including 3 diagrams and portrait .

Hepper
Chief draughtsman at time of Tennants: Maclean Locomotives of the North Eastern Railway

Liddell, P.
P. Liddell, outside machinery superintendent, Darlington, to be docks machinery engineer, Darlington: Loco. Mag., 1933, 39, 343.

Stamer, Arthur Cowie
According to Marshall was born in Shrewsbury on 7 March 1869 and died in Darlington on 14 Frebruary 1944. He was the son of the Suffragan Bishop of Shrewsbury, Rt Rev Sir Lovelace T. Stamer Bt and was educated at Rugby School. He was a Pupil at Beyer Peacock in Manchester from 1886-90 from whence he joined the NER. After working in the running department he was appointed Divisional Locomotive Superintendent at York in 1902. Everett (p. 76) notes that he was part of the party to visit American railroads in 1904. In 1906 he joined the CME's Department and became Assistant Mechanical Engineer under Raven in 1910. During WW1 he acted as CME during Raven's absence. Nock noted that Mr. R. Bell has written: " A.C. Stamer acted as Chief Mechanical Engineer with a resource and urbanity that combined to secure a large output of both Government and North Eastern Railway work. His popularity with the workmen was a valuable asset for the Company during the difficult war years. He understood the men's ways of looking at things and having been a good cricketer in his younger days, took a genuine interest in their games and hobbies. Following the Grouping he continued as Assistant CME at Darlington under Gresley. Portrait on page 145 of Nock's Locomotives of the North Eastern Railway. Portrait J. Instn Loco. Engrs, 1921, 11, fp. 738. Present in group photograph taken at Railway Centenary in Darlington: J. Instn Loco, Engrs, 1925, 15, 576  Obituary Locomotive Mag., 1944, 50, 47.

Simpson, Thomas Heppie
Photographs of Works Foreman with No. 10000 on pp. 38 and 39 of Brown's Hush-Hush

Thompson, Thomas
Born December 1866. Died on 14 May 1919. Commenced engineering career at J. C. Stevenson and Co., Jarrow, Chemical Engineers, as an .ipprentice fitter at 14 jears of age, and on the completion of his apprenticeship was emplojed at Sir Wm. Armstrong’s, Elswick, afterwards entering the North-Eastern Railway Co.’s service as a Fitter at the Gate\head 1Vorlts. He soon proved himself to be a most capable man, and in January, 1908, was appointed Claims Inspector. When the headquarters ol the Locomoti\ e Department were transferred to Darlington Works, Thompson was placed in charge of the Fitting and Erecting Shops, and subsequently appointed Chief Foreman on 31 December 1909 being eventually promoted to the position of Assistant Works Manager in November, 1919.
Thompson belonged to that remarkable class of nen whom the country has to thanh for its position in the engineering world. He made his businesss a hobby, and kcpt himself up to date by studying technical works. During the war period the Darlington Works had a large quantity of munition uork in hand of a very varied nature, and Thompson threw himself into this work uith his usual keenness; he was made a Member of the Order of the British Ernpire in reward for his valuable services.

Paper
Locomotive building practice. 139-52; 175-89. Disc.: 155-74.  J. Instn Loco. Engrs, 1919, 9, 139-52; 175-89. (Paper No. 70)
Based on NER practice at Darlington: boiler construction, flanging of plates, machining and trimming, assembling, the firebox, boiler mountings, tubing, testing, forge and smithy, springs.