Main Line Locomotives by R. Stephenson and Hawthorns LTD, Darlington and New buy Castle, England, Vintage c1937 Pamplet

“Main Line Locomotives” is a little vintage paperback book by R. Stephenson & Hawthorns LTD. Darlington & New Caste of England. A rare find in the US, it showcases 16 locomotives built by the company with a black & white photograph of each as well as “leading dimensions” in English and also three other languages (Spanish, Italian, Dutch). The first locomotive is the “Rocket” built in 1829 and the remaining are all examples from different countries: Iraqi State Railways, Jamnager and Dwarka Railway (India), Indian Government Railways (Bengal Nagpur Section), East African Railways (Kenya Uganda Section), South African Railways (#6, #7, #16), British Railways (eastern Region), Argentine Railways (B. Mitre Section), Turkish State Railways, Sudan Government Railways, Argentine Railways (San Martin Section # 12 and #15), Indian Government Railways (S.I. Section), Burma Railways. There is no copyright stated but based on the history of the company it is c1937 -1938. A very unique gift for a railroad or train enthusiast.

Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns LTD (RSH) was the first company in the world created specifically to build railway engines. Founded in 1823 on Forth Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, and later in 1899 the Darlington works was opened. In 1937 RSH took over the locomotive building department of Hawthorn Leslie and Company. RSH entered the diesel locomotive market with a “direct reversing” locomotive fitted with a Crossley two-stroke engine. There was no reversing gearbox and the buy diesel engine itself was reversible, as in marine practice. When starting, in either direction, power was supplied by compressed air until the engine fired. RSH became part of English Electric in 1955, locomotive building at Newcastle upon Tyne in 1961 and Darlington in 1964. Many of their engines have been preserved in the UK (with one in the US).

Condition: Small paperback pamphlet with moss green cardstock covers and glossy interior pages. The cover shows wear at the top and bottom of the spine, along the spine where the front cover folds and along the top and bottom cover edges. All the corners show wear but only slight bumping. The pages are attached to the rear cover with metal book clips in round metal holders. There is slight age tanning throughout. Previous owner name in on the front inside cover. All interior pages are in excellent condition with no wear, no tears and no other previous owner marks except the final page has two small creases in the upper corner. Unpaginated but approximately 32 pages including front and back cover. There is no copyright stated but based on the history of the company it is c1937 -1938. Dimensions: H – 4” W – 7”

Ships via USPS Media Mail