Rothwell, Hick and Rothwell

Rothwell, Hick and Rothwell was an engineering company in Bolton, England.

Set up in 1830, the partners became interested in the production of steam locomotives after the Rainhill Trials. The first engine was a 2-2-0 for the Bolton and Leigh Railway, followed by three more the following year for American railways.

In that year, 1832, Benjamin Hick left to set up his own business, and the firm then became Rothwell and Company. A further order for America was fulfilled in 1833then for a couple of years the firm was occupied with pumps and stationary engines. From 1936 steam locomotives became their main business. Up to 1840 they produced fifty six, twenty eight of which went abroad. Of note is a 4-2-0 for the South Carolina Railroad to the design of Horatio Allen. This had 4'6" drivers, with a swivelling front bogie, and reputed to have worked for thirty five years. A deal of sub-contract work came from Edward Bury and Company.

From 1841, the company began a batch of engines for the broad gauge Great Western Railway. The largest order came in 1847 for twenty eight 2-2-2 engines for the London and South Western Railway.

Possibly the most remarkable were some 4-2-4 T engines for the Bristol and Exeter Railway with nine foot diameter unflanged driving wheels, and two ball-and-socket swivelled bogies. They weighed 42 tons and achieved speeds of 82 mph, the fastest engines of the time.

The quality of the company's products brought in repeat orders. Many of the engines were still in service twenty years later. From 1857 the engines were to Alexander Allan's design and were similar to the "Old Crewe" type. These were sold to the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway and the Eastern Counties Railway.

The last to be built were four broad gauge engines for the Bristol and Exeter Railway and two saddle tanks for the Carmarthen and Cardigan Railway.

In the face of reduced business and increasing competition, the company closed in 1864. Part of the works was taken over by the Bolton Iron and Steel Company, which was later absorbed by Henry Bessemer and Company.

References

* Lowe, J.W., (1989) "British Steam Locomotive Builders," Guild Publishing