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Clift Quarry Steam Loco
David John Pollard November 2016 Reproduced from David's article in the Industrial Railway Record. Photos courtesy David Pollard. Underground steam locomotives were a rarity. This account attempts to bring together all the available information about the one that worked in Pictor and Sons' Clift Quarry, Box Hill. Right: The Ely locomotive, possibly used at Clift Quarry |
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Chronicles of Pictor’s Locomotive
Bath stone had been dug underground at Box Field Quarry since the 1820s. By 1849 this quarry had come into the ownership of Job Pictor, who used the Box Field shaft to gain access to his adjoining workings to the north east towards Tyning Quarry. In, or by, 1859 a roadway had been dug out of these workings to the Turnpike Road at a place known as the Clift and a tramway was laid in this roadway to bring stone out of the quarry. In January 1864 Pictor and Sons planned to lay down a tramway from the Clift to their stone wharf on the Great Western Railway, just west of Box Tunnel. The Box Hill tramway was opened by November 1866, it was very steeply graded and worked by gravity and horses.
In late June 1870 notice of a forthcoming bazaar appeared in the Bath Express, this is the earliest known mention of the locomotive:
Bath stone had been dug underground at Box Field Quarry since the 1820s. By 1849 this quarry had come into the ownership of Job Pictor, who used the Box Field shaft to gain access to his adjoining workings to the north east towards Tyning Quarry. In, or by, 1859 a roadway had been dug out of these workings to the Turnpike Road at a place known as the Clift and a tramway was laid in this roadway to bring stone out of the quarry. In January 1864 Pictor and Sons planned to lay down a tramway from the Clift to their stone wharf on the Great Western Railway, just west of Box Tunnel. The Box Hill tramway was opened by November 1866, it was very steeply graded and worked by gravity and horses.
In late June 1870 notice of a forthcoming bazaar appeared in the Bath Express, this is the earliest known mention of the locomotive:
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A BAZAAR in aid of the Building Fund of the NEW CHAPEL on Box Hill, will be held on TUESDAY, June 28th, 1870 in FOGLEIGH BARN, situate about five minutes walk from the village of Box, on the Chippenham Road (kindly lent for the purpose by Mr SR Noble).
In aid of the same object Messrs Pictor and Sons have kindly placed at the disposal of the Committee the use of their Locomotive and a few Carriages fitted up for the occasion to take visitors through their extensive Quarry Workings, thus affording an excellent opportunity for exploring the same. Trains will commence running at 1 pm, and will leave the entrance of the quarries every twenty minutes. THE BAZAAR WILL OPEN AT 12 am Tickets 3d. Tickets for the Quarry Excursion, 1st Class, 6d ; 2nd Class 3d. Refreshments can be ordered at the Bazaar Last train from Box starts at 7.45 pm |
The Bath press reported the underground excursion in some detail, the following amalgam of two reports gives some of the flavour of the occasion.
(At) the mouth of the cliff quarry, a small locomotive with several carriages attached, was to be seen busily engaged making trips into the quarry. It disappeared into an opening on the side of the hill. Taking a ticket, then taking your seat in the carriage, the party being composed of about fifty members of both sexes, and the signal being given, away we went at a smart rate into the bowels of the earth. Messrs Pictor’s trucks are necessarily uncovered, and you could feel all the refreshing action of the cold air and condensed steam in your face. We may here mention that the locomotive is used every day by the Messrs Pictor, for the purpose of bringing stone from underground. The light provided was not much. The train passed along the metals for quite a mile, passing on the way a number of “points” leading into the different “headings” where the different gangs of quarrymen are engaged.
The black steed gave a very shrill whistle and after much snorting and puffing stopped, the party alighted, and proceeded on foot into the “heading” where the men were at work. The excursionists having seen the operations of quarrying, now proceeded to inspect some abandoned workings in Messrs Pictor’s Box Field Quarry. After looking about here for some time, the party retraced its way, on arriving at the “station”, we were again taken up and carried to the outer world, several sagacious country damsels set up a squall, in a friendly sort of way, to help each other through the darkness; they were also assisted by a dog in the rear, belonging to one of the party, which was following in a very excited state of mind. Parties continued to patronise the excursions till as late as 10 o’clock at night.
(At) the mouth of the cliff quarry, a small locomotive with several carriages attached, was to be seen busily engaged making trips into the quarry. It disappeared into an opening on the side of the hill. Taking a ticket, then taking your seat in the carriage, the party being composed of about fifty members of both sexes, and the signal being given, away we went at a smart rate into the bowels of the earth. Messrs Pictor’s trucks are necessarily uncovered, and you could feel all the refreshing action of the cold air and condensed steam in your face. We may here mention that the locomotive is used every day by the Messrs Pictor, for the purpose of bringing stone from underground. The light provided was not much. The train passed along the metals for quite a mile, passing on the way a number of “points” leading into the different “headings” where the different gangs of quarrymen are engaged.
The black steed gave a very shrill whistle and after much snorting and puffing stopped, the party alighted, and proceeded on foot into the “heading” where the men were at work. The excursionists having seen the operations of quarrying, now proceeded to inspect some abandoned workings in Messrs Pictor’s Box Field Quarry. After looking about here for some time, the party retraced its way, on arriving at the “station”, we were again taken up and carried to the outer world, several sagacious country damsels set up a squall, in a friendly sort of way, to help each other through the darkness; they were also assisted by a dog in the rear, belonging to one of the party, which was following in a very excited state of mind. Parties continued to patronise the excursions till as late as 10 o’clock at night.
Clift quarrymen about 1880
Fatalities on the Clift Track
Sadly in the following year the locomotive fatally injured Henry Rose a quarryman. At the inquest it was stated that on the morning of Thursday 11th July 1871 at about 10 o’clock Rose and about twenty others were returning from their breakfast to work on a number of trams drawn by a steam engine. When they had gone a short distance underground a halt was made for the purpose of obtaining a light. Rose was riding on the rear of the last tram and as soon as the engine stopped he jumped off, but before he could get clear, the engine was reversed and he was knocked down and several of the trams passed over him. The engine would also have passed over him had it not been for the firebox which was so short a distance from the ground as to preclude its clearing the body. From the darkness the engine driver could not have known that Rose had got off the train. The unfortunate Rose died five hours later.
Over a decade later the locomotive was noticed by visitors to the quarry, in 1883 an architectural journalist wrote our special train has been got ready ... we certainly do feel the sacrifice of beauty to utility in the particular engine before us to be a most appalling one. Without exception, we do not think we have seen a more thoroughly ugly bit of machinery ... Nor is our delight with it increased, when as we plunge into the black darkness of the small bore tunnel, we find ourselves half choked with the smoke and steam it evolves from its ugly carcass.
The locomotive had a similar effect on geologists, in 1886 George Harris wrote in the Builder The blocks ... are drawn to the mouth of the quarries either by horses or by a locomotive engine, the latter being about the ugliest piece of machinery it is possible to conceive of.
In December 1887 Pictor and Sons amalgamated with several other quarry firms to form the Bath Stone Firms Ltd; in that month the locomotive claimed the life of Thomas Tanner a mason aged 70. He was repairing a wall adjoining the tramway near the mouth of the quarry; when as he passed over the line through the space between several loaded trolleys the engine with another load of stone came from the quarry and shunted into the others; thus literally squeezing him to death.
Sadly in the following year the locomotive fatally injured Henry Rose a quarryman. At the inquest it was stated that on the morning of Thursday 11th July 1871 at about 10 o’clock Rose and about twenty others were returning from their breakfast to work on a number of trams drawn by a steam engine. When they had gone a short distance underground a halt was made for the purpose of obtaining a light. Rose was riding on the rear of the last tram and as soon as the engine stopped he jumped off, but before he could get clear, the engine was reversed and he was knocked down and several of the trams passed over him. The engine would also have passed over him had it not been for the firebox which was so short a distance from the ground as to preclude its clearing the body. From the darkness the engine driver could not have known that Rose had got off the train. The unfortunate Rose died five hours later.
Over a decade later the locomotive was noticed by visitors to the quarry, in 1883 an architectural journalist wrote our special train has been got ready ... we certainly do feel the sacrifice of beauty to utility in the particular engine before us to be a most appalling one. Without exception, we do not think we have seen a more thoroughly ugly bit of machinery ... Nor is our delight with it increased, when as we plunge into the black darkness of the small bore tunnel, we find ourselves half choked with the smoke and steam it evolves from its ugly carcass.
The locomotive had a similar effect on geologists, in 1886 George Harris wrote in the Builder The blocks ... are drawn to the mouth of the quarries either by horses or by a locomotive engine, the latter being about the ugliest piece of machinery it is possible to conceive of.
In December 1887 Pictor and Sons amalgamated with several other quarry firms to form the Bath Stone Firms Ltd; in that month the locomotive claimed the life of Thomas Tanner a mason aged 70. He was repairing a wall adjoining the tramway near the mouth of the quarry; when as he passed over the line through the space between several loaded trolleys the engine with another load of stone came from the quarry and shunted into the others; thus literally squeezing him to death.
Later Uses of the Loco
George Harris returned to the Clift in July 1893 and noted I soon saw a fearful looking "steam locomotive" running thereon.
A word as to this locomotive, it was expressly designed and built for this work, vizt that of running underground fetching out trucks laden with stone. It has a vertical boiler, with engines, which put me in mind of that usually seen on an old fashioned steam launch, and the piston rods move up an down in a very rapid pace. The man in charge is a very noted character matching the engine in every way. When underground at Clift and you hear the said engine coming along you would imagine that it was coming like the "Flying Dutchman’" but when close up you find it is only just crawling along! I was told by a man at Marsh, Son & Gibbs place that the engine wanted repairing every few weeks. It is said that if the engine man who is very old, were discharged he would soon die.
George Harris returned to the Clift in July 1893 and noted I soon saw a fearful looking "steam locomotive" running thereon.
A word as to this locomotive, it was expressly designed and built for this work, vizt that of running underground fetching out trucks laden with stone. It has a vertical boiler, with engines, which put me in mind of that usually seen on an old fashioned steam launch, and the piston rods move up an down in a very rapid pace. The man in charge is a very noted character matching the engine in every way. When underground at Clift and you hear the said engine coming along you would imagine that it was coming like the "Flying Dutchman’" but when close up you find it is only just crawling along! I was told by a man at Marsh, Son & Gibbs place that the engine wanted repairing every few weeks. It is said that if the engine man who is very old, were discharged he would soon die.
Graffiti in the quarry
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It is probable that the locomotive and its driver ceased work in the first week of April of 1897. The Firms' Board resolved on the 9th April 1897 to allow George Mould of Box Hill formerly engine driver 5 shillings a week for 12 weeks commencing from the date he was discharged, they continued to pay it until his death on 12th June 1900 they also gave £2 towards the funeral expenses.
On the 14th January 1898 the Firms' new general manager William David reported he had sold the steam locomotive at Box (late Pictor & Sons) for £40 delivered at Pontypridd Station. Later in 1900 he was quoted as saying small steam locomotives were tried some time ago, but had to be abandoned on account of the smoke they created in the mine. |
The late Nellie Wilkins of Box Hill recalled the locomotive and its feisty driver in her hundredth year, she said it had a lamp at each end and pulled one trolley at a time from the quarry. George Stevens, a carter, said that it tended to frighten the horses underground. When the engine finally broke down, George together with his father, Daniel, went in with the horses and pulled it out. The engine shed was located on the head shunt at the Clift where the outer wall still survives to a height of about five feet.
Reasons for the Loco
Much of what follows is speculation, a factor in Pictor’s decision to buy a steam locomotive must have been the slope of the Bath stone beds which under Box Hill generally dip towards the south east away from the mouth of the Clift Quarry, thus the gradient was against the load. Also at one point in the Clift roadway there is a jump, or step fault of a few feet resulting in a short but steep gradient against the load. The usual upper limit in size of single blocks was 100 cubic feet or 6.25 tons, although blocks of up to
10 tons could be specially ordered, to this could be added the weight of a standard quarry trolley which is about 1 ton. Thus at least two horses and sometimes three were needed to haul out a single loaded trolley. Therefore the greater hauling power of a locomotive with its longer working life could have made it an attractive proposition.
Clearances in the Clift roadway are tight in places, it is likely that the locomotive’s basic parameters were similar to those of a standard quarry trolley, ie 8 foot 6 inches long, 4ft wide, a wheelbase of 4ft 3in and wheel diameter of 1ft 8in, the height to the crown of the entrance arch is 7ft 5in. The tramway gauge was 2ft 5½in, the proximity of some pillars on some bends left little room for outside frames and cranks, a belief supported by two quarrymen’s graffitos depicting the locomotive. Both show wheels outside the frames, one, incredibly, shows a longitudinally-mounted 3-cylinder engine complete with pistons, connecting rods, crankshaft and valve rods, looking remarkably like a launch engine. Other features shown include the regulator, safety valve, hand brake, brake shoe and headlamp. The other graffito depicts a locomotive with a traction engine type footplate and bunker. Reduction gearing between the crank shaft and driving axle seems probable.
Reasons for the Loco
Much of what follows is speculation, a factor in Pictor’s decision to buy a steam locomotive must have been the slope of the Bath stone beds which under Box Hill generally dip towards the south east away from the mouth of the Clift Quarry, thus the gradient was against the load. Also at one point in the Clift roadway there is a jump, or step fault of a few feet resulting in a short but steep gradient against the load. The usual upper limit in size of single blocks was 100 cubic feet or 6.25 tons, although blocks of up to
10 tons could be specially ordered, to this could be added the weight of a standard quarry trolley which is about 1 ton. Thus at least two horses and sometimes three were needed to haul out a single loaded trolley. Therefore the greater hauling power of a locomotive with its longer working life could have made it an attractive proposition.
Clearances in the Clift roadway are tight in places, it is likely that the locomotive’s basic parameters were similar to those of a standard quarry trolley, ie 8 foot 6 inches long, 4ft wide, a wheelbase of 4ft 3in and wheel diameter of 1ft 8in, the height to the crown of the entrance arch is 7ft 5in. The tramway gauge was 2ft 5½in, the proximity of some pillars on some bends left little room for outside frames and cranks, a belief supported by two quarrymen’s graffitos depicting the locomotive. Both show wheels outside the frames, one, incredibly, shows a longitudinally-mounted 3-cylinder engine complete with pistons, connecting rods, crankshaft and valve rods, looking remarkably like a launch engine. Other features shown include the regulator, safety valve, hand brake, brake shoe and headlamp. The other graffito depicts a locomotive with a traction engine type footplate and bunker. Reduction gearing between the crank shaft and driving axle seems probable.
Origin of the Loco
The locomotive was built before June 1870, but probably after July 1863, at that time George Mould the only known driver was employed as a carter, but is recorded as an engine driver in the 1871 and subsequent censuses. Who built it? The locomotive bore some resemblance to a de Winton or Chaplin product, but there is no evidence that either built it. However Pictors did buy a steam crane from Chaplin in 1865; in November 1895 Chaplin supplied a new race wheel; and in January 1896 a new spin wheel for this crane. The Chaplin engine register is allegedly incomplete for the earlier years, also at least one Chaplin designed locomotive was built by another firm, so the Clift loco could have been a Chaplin design or product.
The locomotive was built before June 1870, but probably after July 1863, at that time George Mould the only known driver was employed as a carter, but is recorded as an engine driver in the 1871 and subsequent censuses. Who built it? The locomotive bore some resemblance to a de Winton or Chaplin product, but there is no evidence that either built it. However Pictors did buy a steam crane from Chaplin in 1865; in November 1895 Chaplin supplied a new race wheel; and in January 1896 a new spin wheel for this crane. The Chaplin engine register is allegedly incomplete for the earlier years, also at least one Chaplin designed locomotive was built by another firm, so the Clift loco could have been a Chaplin design or product.
The only known photograph depicts a squat vertical boiler loco, the boiler had a mudhole door near the top and was devoid of lagging, the cylinders were not mounted on the side of the boiler but were separated from it by a tall structure, perhaps a water tank. The writer knows of only two vertical boiler locomotive designs with this feature, one an alleged Chaplin engine employed on the Ely (Cambridgeshire) Sewage Scheme in 1905 and the other was illustrated in an advertisement by George Russell & Co of Motherwell Junction. George Russell had been Alexander Chaplin’s designer before setting up the Alpha Steam Crane and Engine Works in 1865.
The entrance to Clift Quarry apparently in the inter-war years
There were also some local firms who had the capability to build a small locomotive, they included Rowland Brotherhood at Chippenham, Brown and May at Devizes, and Stothert and Pitt at Bath. Of these, the best contender is Stothert and Pitt who supplied steam winding engines and cranes to all the leading Bath stone quarry firms.
Pictor’s locomotive was at least 27 years old by the time it stopped work, perhaps it was no longer reliable and the economics began to favour horses; the smoke could also have been a factor. The management of Croesor quarry in North Wales were prosecuted in 1897 for allowing engine smoke in the workings; underground in the Clift Quarry smoke-blackened ceilings remain to show where it travelled.
The fate of this locomotive is intriguing, the price of £40 suggests it was worth rather more than scrap value, perhaps it was bought for further use. William David, the manager who sold it, came from Ely, South Wales. At some time in the 1880s he was employed by Messrs Forster Brown & Rees who were mining and civil engineers of Guildhall Chambers, Cardiff, by 1892 he was managing director of David & Sant Ltd in the Forest of Dean stone trade. It is possible that the locomotive was sold through personal connections rather than advertised.
The writer suspects that the vertical boiler engine at Ely is the Clift Quarry locomotive and that Ely, Glamorgan, was the actual location of the 1905 sewage works.
Perhaps the last words should be those of Nellie Wilkins, who described the locomotive as a dirty rusty old thing !
Pictor’s locomotive was at least 27 years old by the time it stopped work, perhaps it was no longer reliable and the economics began to favour horses; the smoke could also have been a factor. The management of Croesor quarry in North Wales were prosecuted in 1897 for allowing engine smoke in the workings; underground in the Clift Quarry smoke-blackened ceilings remain to show where it travelled.
The fate of this locomotive is intriguing, the price of £40 suggests it was worth rather more than scrap value, perhaps it was bought for further use. William David, the manager who sold it, came from Ely, South Wales. At some time in the 1880s he was employed by Messrs Forster Brown & Rees who were mining and civil engineers of Guildhall Chambers, Cardiff, by 1892 he was managing director of David & Sant Ltd in the Forest of Dean stone trade. It is possible that the locomotive was sold through personal connections rather than advertised.
The writer suspects that the vertical boiler engine at Ely is the Clift Quarry locomotive and that Ely, Glamorgan, was the actual location of the 1905 sewage works.
Perhaps the last words should be those of Nellie Wilkins, who described the locomotive as a dirty rusty old thing !