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1083 Locomotive

Mikes says (of the loco in the photo below);

“We actually built these Locomotives here in Australia, why didn’t we become the leaders in making them, can’t imagine mass production was an issue and the UK shipped locos all around the world so it wasn’t a problem with logistics?”

I asked where he heard that. His answer was by the team that lead the Australian Technology Park in Redfern where the loco sits.

So I did a bit of Google searching … five minutes worth of searching, that’s all it took in fact.

In 1937 Robert Stephenson and Company was formed, which was based in Darlington, UK.

Robert Stephenson and Company took over the locomotive building department of Hawthorn Leslie and Company, based in Newcastle upon Tyne. They then renamed themselves Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns.

Basically the shipbuilder in Newcastle, UK flogged their loss making loco division to the Darlington, UK company.

The IP (patterns, drawings etc) of locomotive builders Kitson & Co (Leeds, UK), in receivership, was obtained by Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns in 1938.

That is, these designs for the locos were from the UK and hardly changed between 1937 and 1950, and they were made in Newcastle upon Tyne.

In 1950 Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns was acquired by another UK company, English Electric.

Not much of an Australian story there …

1083c