Jones, Turner and Evans
Jones, Turner and Evans was a locomotive manufacturer in Newton-le-Willows, England from 1837, known as Jones and Potts between 1844 and 1852.
Jones, Turner and Evans
The company opened in 1837 with subcontracts from Edward Bury and Robert Stephenson. They provided locomotives for the North Union Railway and the Midland Counties Railway, the latter all 2-2-2 with 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) diameter driving wheels, and 12 in × 18 in (300 mm × 460 mm) cylinders. In 1840, they built two four-coupled 0-4-2s for the MCR. Further orders included engines for the Great Northern Railway, London and Brighton Railway and the Grand Junction Railway. They also supplied six broad gauge engines for the Great Western Railway, the first of the class being Firefly. In 1841 built four for the Eastern Counties Railway. Also in 1841 they exported two 0-4-2 locomotives to Austria: Minotaurus and Ajax. Ajax is now the oldest preserved steam locomotive in mainland Europe. It was built for the inauguration of the Kaiser Ferdinands-Nordbahn in 1837. Originally built to transport goods it was, due to its large wheels and capability for high speeds, used for passenger services also. In 1874 it was withdrawn from service but not scrapped. From 1897 Ajax' was stored at the Austrian Railway Museum. In 1908 on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Kaiser Ferdinands-Nordbahn it was restored and shortly afterwards transferred to the Techisches Museum in Vienna, where it is still on display.
Jones and Potts
After the initial railway boom, by 1844, orders were becoming slack and Jones formed a partnership with Arthur Potts, renaming the company Jones and Potts. Mr. Potts was instrumental in securing many more orders, particularly from the Eastern Counties Railway.
Locomotive designs
By 1850, the design of most of the locos was to Alexander Allan's pattern, with outside cylinders, and the long-boiler 4-2-0 popularised by Robert Stephenson. As a result, they had a very rough ride and derailed frequently. They also built five 0-6-0 engines for the Scottish lines, which, however were converted to 0-4-2. Seven 2-2-2 well tank engines were provided to the London and Blackwall Railway which served for many years.
Closure
Business tailed off again, and the company closed down in 1852. The works were leased by the London and North Western Railway, who then bought it outright in 1860, forming the nucleus of the Earlestown railway works.
John Jones and Son
One partner, John Jones, however carried on as John Jones and Son with a factory in Liverpool to continue building locomotives, until 1863.
References
- Lowe, J.W., (1989) British Steam Locomotive Builders, Guild Publishing