Thomas Russell Crampton

Thomas Russell Crampton, M.I.C.E., M.I.Mech.E., (1816 - 1888) was an English engineer born at Broadstairs, Kent, and trained on Brunel's Great Western Railway.

He is best known for designing the Crampton locomotive but had many engineering interests including the electric telegraph and the Channel Tunnel for which he designed a boring machine. His locomotives had much better success in France, Germany and Italy than they did in the UK.

Personal life

Born to John and Mary Crampton of Prospect Cottage (in what is now Dickens Walk), Broadstairs, on August 6 1816, Crampton was the son of a plumber and architect. He was educated privately. Crampton married Louisa Martha Hall, who was a singer and a friend of Jenny Lind, on 25 February 1841.cite web | url = http://www.chapelhill.homeip.net/FamilyHistory/OurFamilyData/d0005/g0000593.htm#I07523| publisher = David Horton & Kerry Raymond| title = Louisa Martha HALL| accessdate = 2008-03-22] They had 8 children, six boys and two girls. The eldest girl, Ada Sarah, died aged 4 on 16 February 1857.cite web | url = http://www.chapelhill.homeip.net/FamilyHistory/OurFamilyData/d0003/g0000318.htm#I07530| publisher = David Horton & Kerry Raymond| title = Ada Sarah CRAMPTON| accessdate = 2008-03-22] and Crampton gifted a stained glass window in St. Peter's church, Broadstairs in her memory. Their youngest daughter, Louisa, was to marry Sir Horace Rumbold, the Ambassador to the Netherlands.

Crampton's first wife died on 16 March 1875 and he married Elizabeth Werge on 25 August 1881.cite web | url = http://www.chapelhill.homeip.net/FamilyHistory/OurFamilyData/d0003/g0000343.htm#I07518| publisher = David Horton & Kerry Raymond| title = Thomas Russell CRAMPTON| accessdate = 2008-03-22] He died at his home, 19 Ashley Place, Westminster on April 19 1888 and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery.

Career

Crampton entered a career in engineering, initially with Marc Brunel at the Great Western Railway (GWR) in Swindon.cite web | url = http://www.cramptontower.co.uk/broadstairs.htm| publisher = Crampton Tower Museum| title = PRIVATE LIFE AND BROADSTAIRS| accessdate = 2008-03-22] cite web | url = http://www.steamindex.com/people/crampton.htm| publisher = Steam Index| title = Thomas Russell Crampton | accessdate = 2008-03-22]

Great Western Railway 1839-43

On joining the GWR in 1839cite web | url = http://www.cramptontower.co.uk/about.htm| publisher = Crampton Tower Museum| title = LOCOMOTIVES| accessdate = 2008-03-22] , Crampton worked as assistant to Marc Brunel and then Daniel Gooch. Crampton was involved in the design of the "Firefly" class of locomotives. Gooch's aim was to produce broad gauge locomotives that were better than those on the standard gauge lines, thus proving the broad gauge system was the better technically. Crampton, unbeknown to the GWR, had the idea of improving standard gauge locomotives so that they could match those of the broad gauge. Crampton soon left the GWR. In 1843, he left the GWR.

Development 1844-51

s gave a lower piston speed, which allowed a higher speed for the locomotive before exhaust problems occurred.

In 1843, Crampton took out a patent for a new design of locomotive. It is for the physical appearance of his locomotives that Crampton is remembered for today, with the driving wheel placed behind the firebox. But there were technical improvements that he made, which laid the foundations for future locomotive design. The three most important improvements were:- wide steam passages, large heating surfaces and generous bearing surfaces on the wheels.

From 1844 to 1848, Crampton was working for John and George Rennie.

In 1845, Crampton received his first order for a locomotive built to his patent. The Namur and Liege Railway in Belgium ordered two locomotives with convert|7|ft|m|2 diameter driving wheels and a convert|14.5|sqft|m2 grate. One of the locomotives was tested on the Grand Junction Railway, who then built a "Crampton Patent" locomotive at Crewe. After the Grand Junction Railway was absorbed by the London and North Western Railway (LNWR), another two locomotives were built by the LNWR, including a 6-2-0 with convert|8|ft|m|2 diameter driving wheels. A claim of convert|79|mph|km/h being achieved was made, with an average of convert|53|mph|km/h over convert|30|mi|km with a 60 ton load. Another claim was for a speed of hauling eight carriages over convert|16|mi|km at an average speed of convert|74|mph|km/h.cite web | url = http://www.webalice.it/alberto.pezzoli81/treni/Storia/CramptonEngerth.htm| publisher = webalice.it| title = La locomotiva dell'impresa: la Crampton| accessdate = 2008-03-22it]

One locomotive Crampton designed had an indirect drive arrangement, with a crankshaft between the driving wheels. This locomotive had a 2-2+2-2 wheel arrangement. In 1847, Crampton became a founder member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, and in 1848, Crampton set up in business as a Civil Engineer in London. In 1850, a Crampton locomotive was exhibited at Birmingham which had balance weights on the driving wheels. This feature was commented upon by William Stroudley. In 1851, Crampton started the Broadstairs Gasworks, overseeing the construction and financing much of the works.

outh Eastern Railway 1851-88

bridge which was built across Goodson Steps. This is the Louisa Gap bridge, named after his youngest daughter. Crampton was elected Vice-President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1883.

Railway lines constructed

Crampton was, wholly or partly, responsible for the railway lines built between Smyrna and Aidin; Varna and Rustchuk; Strood and Dover; Sevenoaks and Swanley; and Herne Bay and Faversham. The latter three lines being built by the London, Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR). Crampton was also the contractor, and later chairman of the East and West Junction Railway. A Crampton locomotive was used to haul the first train from Kineton to Fenny Compton.cite web | url = http://www.andythompson.net/history.htm| publisher = Andy Thompson| title = History of the line| accessdate = 2008-03-22]

Electric telegraph

Crampton was responsible for the laying of the first international submarine cable in the world. This was laid in the Strait of Dover in 1851. The first messages were carried on the 13 November 1851 and the cable was in use until 1859.

The company behind the project was an Anglo-French undertaking, known as "la Compagnie du télégraphe sous-marin" in France and the "Submarine Telegraph Company between France and England" in Great Britain. Crampton was the engineer, and Charlton Wollaston was the electrician involved in laying the cable across the Channel. The SER were another early user of the electric telegraph, and it was by use of the SERs wires that messages were able to be transmitted between Paris and London, being relayed from Dover.cite web | url = http://distantwriting.co.uk/competitorsallies.aspx| publisher = Distant Writing| title = COMPETITORS AND ALLIES| accessdate = 2008-03-22]

Channel Tunnel

Crampton designed an automatic hydraulic tunnel boring machine, which was intended to be used in the construction of the Channel Tunnel. Modern drilling techniques were made possible by this invention.

References

Further reading

* "The Crampton locomotive in England". P.C. Dewhurst.
* "British locomotive design,1825-1960". Glover, G., London: Allen & Unwin, 1967
* "Narrow gauge steam: its origins and world-wide development". Ransom, P.J.G., Sparkford: OPC
* "Locomotives of the LNWR Southern Division: London & Birmingham Railway, London & North Western Railway and Wolverton Locomotive Works". Jack, Harry, 2001
* "Four main lines". London: Allen & Unwin, Hamilton-Ellis, Cuthbert, 1950. 225pp.

External links

* [http://www.steamindex.com/people/crampton.htm Thomas Russell Crampton biography]
* [http://www.cramptontower.co.uk Crampton Tower Museum - Contains good biography]