NER Question

[Bryan]

According to Tomlinson in his History of the North Eastern Railway a party of the principal officials visited the United States for 31 days and travelled 4500 miles over the principal railway systems.

The problem is he does not state what year this was. Any ideas as to when?
And was this the only visit or were there more especially between 1850 and 1880?

[52D]

Bryan,
Tuplin states that Wilson Wordsell had spent time in America prior to 1902. I havent found the date of the visit yet but i will keep looking ISTR that the S class 4-6-0 was built with American influences after the visit so that could be a clue.

[richard]

He returned from a spell on the Pennsylvania in 1871:

http://www.lner.info/eng/wworsdell.shtml


Richard

[Solario]

The problem is he does not state what year this was. Any ideas as to when?

The visit took place in 1901 and was lead by General Manager George Stegmann Gibb and included Wilson Worsdell in the party. Several effects were apparent from this visit, the adoption of the Atlantic wheel arrangement for express locomotives, American styled 12-wheeler coaches and maybe most importantly, new ways of traffic management based on an analysis of the loads/passengers carried.

Incidentally, both the Worsdell brothers spent time working for the Pennsylvania Railroad's Altoona Works. TW as Master Mechanic & Wilson as pupil.

[Malcolm]

According to my records the visit was in October 1901, and the party consisted of:
Mr. George Stegmann Gibb (General Manager of the NER)
Philip Burtt (Superintendent of the NER)
T. M. Newall (Docks Engineer, NER)
C. A. Harrison (Chief Engineer NER)
Wilson Worsdell (CME)

Apparently, Worsdell was impressed with the performance of the atlantic engines on the Reading Railroad, working the "Atlantic City Flyers". This led to the "V" atlantics on the NER instead of further development of the "S" class.

Malcolm

[Bryan]

The problem is he does not state what year this was. Any ideas as to when?

Incidentally, both the Worsdell brothers spent time working for the Pennsylvania Railroad's Altoona Works. TW as Master Mechanic & Wilson as pupil.

Was this during the same trip or on a previous occaision?

[Solario]

Was this during the same trip or on a previous occaision?

TW (William) Worsdell emigrated to the USA in 1865 and he joined the Pennsylvania Railroad (the Worsdell family were well know Quakers and Pennsylvania was a Quaker state). He became Master Mechanic in 1868 and was put in charge of the Altoona workshops. He persuaded Wilson to join him (from Crewe) and he followed his brother to Altoona in July 1867. Wilson was taken on as engineering pupil.

It is known that TW returned to Crewe after being offered the post of Works Manager in August 1871, it is thought that Wilson accompanied him.

[Bryan]

Thanks for the replies.