Lancashire Witch
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Lancashire Witch was an early steam locomotive built by Robert Stephenson and Company in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1828.[1] It was a development of Locomotion.[citation needed]
Lancashire Witch was an 0-4-0 locomotive with rear mounted cylinders inclined at 45 degrees driving to the front wheels. The rear wheels were powered via coupling rods. The boiler had two flue tubes[a] and the locomotive burnt coke, aided by bellows on the tender. It was the first locomotive with steel springs.[2] It was the first locomotive built by Robert Stephenson and Company.[3]
History
The locomotive that was to become Lancashire Witch was ordered by the board of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway (L&MR) in January 1828. The boiler was to incorporate a series a small flues, this evolved into a large central flue and two smaller side flues bent at the end.[1] Four months after the order, the L&MR board transferred the locomotive to the Bolton and Leigh Railway (B&LR) (which opened in June 1828)[4] where it was used[2] as well as the L&MR. It was initially used to construct the B&LR, where it was shown hauling 58 long tons (59 t; 65 short tons) up a gradient of 1 in 432 (2.3‰ or 0.23%) at 8.8 miles per hour (14.2 km/h).[5]
