Alexander Allan (locomotive engineer)

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Alexander Allan
Born1809
Montrose, Angus
Died2 June 1891
Scarborough, Yorkshire
NationalityScottish
CitizenshipBritish
OccupationEngineer
Engineering career
DisciplineMechanical engineering
InstitutionsInstitution of Mechanical Engineers
Significant designstraight-link valve gear
LNWR No. 3074, Allan's 'Crewe' goods engine designed for the GJR, introduced 1846 [1]
Allan's 2-2-2 Columbine, GJR No. 49, LNWR No. 1868 with cab, built 1845 withdrawn 1902
Allan valve gear, seen here fitted to an early Austrian locomotive

Alexander Allan was a Scottish mechanical engineer. He was born at Montrose, Angus, in 1809 and died at Scarborough, Yorkshire on 2 June 1891.[2]

Biography[]

Alan was born in Montrose, Angus, Scotland in 1809.[3] He undertook a apprenticeship to Mr. Gibb, a millwright.[3] In 1832 aged about 23 he took a position at Robert Stephenson and Company, Newcastle upon Tyne.[3] By 1834 he had moved to Liverpool and taken up a position with George Forrester and Company who were about to begin building railway locomotives.[3]

Allan was works manager for George Forrester and Company until 1840.[4] He was the engineer sent for a year to supervise the maintenance of the three Forrester engines Vauxhall, Dublin and Kingstown for the first year of their service at Dublin and Kingstown Railway in 1834.[5]

From 1843 to 1853 he was Works Manager at the Crewe Works of the Grand Junction Railway, later London and North Western Railway, under Francis Trevithick.[6] He later claimed the credit for designing the Crewe type locomotive with inclined cylinders and double frames, but this claim has been challenged.[7] From 1853 to 1865 he was Locomotive Superintendent of the Scottish Central Railway. Allan was an original member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1847.

Inventions[]

Allan made a number of inventions, including a balanced slide valve, but the best-known is his straight-link valve gear of 1855.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Steam engine locomotive, built at the Crewe works, for the Grand Junction Railway". flickr. 5 December 2009. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  2. ^ "Alexander Allan and other Crewe locomotive designers". Steamindex.com. 16 September 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Institution of Mechanical Engineers (1891), p. 289.
  4. ^ Day and McNeil, Lance and Ian (2002). Biographical Dictionary of the History of Technology (Annotated ed.). Routledge. ISBN 978-1134650194.
  5. ^ Murray (1981), pp. 176–178.
  6. ^ LNWR Society (2007), Allan, Alexander.
  7. ^ Stuart & Reed (1971).

Sources[]

  • LNWR Society (2007). "LNWRS Glossary". London and North Western Railway Society. Archived from the original on 17 October 2007.
  • Institution of Mechanical Engineers (1891). "Proceedings 1891". Institution of Mechanical Engineers. London.
  • Lowe, James W. (2014) [1975]. British Steam Locomotives Builders. Pen & Sword Transport. ISBN 978-1-47382-289-4. OCLC 889509628.
  • Murray, Kevin (1981). Ireland's First Railway. Dublin: Irish Railway Record Society. ISBN 0-904078-07-8.
  • Stuart, D. H.; Reed, Brian (1971). The Crewe Type (Loco Profile No 15).
Preceded by
Robert Sinclair 		Locomotive Superintendent of Scottish Central Railway
1854-1865 		Succeeded by
Post abolished when S.C.R. absorbed by Caledonian Railway


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