Beyer, Peacock and Company

Beyer, Peacock and Company was a railway locomotive manufacturer with a factory in Gorton, Manchester. It worked from 1854 until 1966.

During the First World War they manufactured artillery. They made the first successful condensing locomotive design for London's first underground railway.

Most of their locomotives were exported, especially the double ended Garrat articulated locomotives, which could go round tight curves. Their boiler, firebox, and cab are mounted on a centre frame or "bridge". The two other parts, one at each end, have a pivot to support the central frame; they both have a steam engine unit – with driving wheels, trailing wheels, valve gear, and cylinders, and above it, fuel and/or water storage.

South African Railways gauge SAR NGG 16 Class Garratt, preserved in operating condition on the Welsh Highland Railway

Beyer, Peacock And Company Media

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  Prins August, built for Sweden in 1856, preserved at Swedish Railway Museum in Gävle, Sweden. It is said to be the worlds oldest operating steam engine in the world.

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  Layout of the Gorton Foundry workshops of Beyer, Peacock and Co. Ltd

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  The Gorton Foundry in 1870

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  Beyer, Peacock's innovative condensing locomotive of 1871 – the inaugural motive power for London's underground railway. The large black pipe and another on the right-hand side took steam from the cylinders to the side tanks rather than ejecting it into the atmosphere as on conventional locomotives.

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  The three separate units of a Beyer-Garratt locomotive. The tractive effort of this locomotive was double that of its Template:Whyte predecessor. (Click to enlarge.)