Beyer, Peacock and Company was an English railway Locomotive manufacturer with a factory in Gorton, Manchester. Founded by Charles Beyer and Richard Peacock, it traded from 1854 until 1966. It received limited liability in 1902, becoming Beyer, Peacock and Company Limited.

Important designs were the Beyer-Garratt articulated locomotives widely used in Africa, notably on South and East African Railways, and Australia and the 4-4-0 tank locomotives used on the Metropolitan and District lines of London Underground from 1864 until electrification in 1905. They also built 2-4-0 tank locomotives for lines in Norway and the famous Manx Peacock design for the gauge Isle of Man Railway

The first Garratt locomotive constructed was TGR K Class for the Tasmanian Government Railways on the western Tasmanian North East Dundas Tramway; K1 is now preserved on the Welsh Highland Railway together with the last Garratt Beyer Peacock built SAR NGG 16 Class No.143.

In addition to building steam locomotives, Beyer, Peacock & Co. also built the 10 British Rail Class 82, 25KV AC electric locomotives to a Metropolitan Vickers design, and the 101 British Rail Class 35 diesel hydraulic locomotives. They also collaborated with Metropolitan Vickers in building the Western Australia Government Railways X class, diesel electric locomotives, and the New South Wales 46 class, 1500 V DC electric locomotives at Bowesfield Works, Stockton-on-Tees.

Locomotives Produced

Steam

Conventional

• 1864–1885 Metropolitan Railway 4-4-0T
• 1871–1886 Metropolitan District Railway 4-4-0T
• 1931 GWR 5700 Class (25 off)

Beyer-Garratts

• 1909 TGR K Class
• 1925 LNER Class U1
• 1926 Victorian Railways G class
• 1927 LMS Garratt
• 1928 NZR G class
• 1928 SAR GL Class
• 1937 SAR NGG 16 Class

Steam Turbine

Diesel

• 1954–56 Western Australian Government Railways X class, built at Bowesfield Works, Stockton-on-Tees.
• 1961–63 British Rail Class 35
• 1962 British Rail Class 25
• 1964 British Rail Class 17

Electric

• 1956–58 New South Wales 46 class, built at Bowesfield Works, Stockton-on-Tees.
• 1960–62 British Rail Class 82

See also

• Finnish Railway Museum
• Welsh Highland Railway
• Garratt
• Beyer, Peacock locomotives

External links

• Brief company biography
• Beyer Peacock history
• Finnish Railway Museum

References

• Hills, R. L.; Patrick, D. Beyer, Peacock, locomotive builders to the world. Glossop: Transport Publishing Co.