Locomotive Manufacturing in Stafford

The engineering works at Stafford, established by Siemens Brothers in 1903 and later incorporated into the English Electric Company in 1918, played a pivotal role in the development of electric rail traction. While large-scale assembly of diesel mainline locomotive bodies was primarily concentrated at other English Electric sites like the Vulcan Foundry and Preston, the Stafford works was responsible for designing and manufacturing early industrial electric locomotives, specialized mining locomotives, and the essential electrical traction equipment that powered Britain’s mainline electric fleet.

The Siemens Era (1903–1918)

In 1903, Siemens Brothers Dynamo Works opened a major manufacturing facility along Lichfield Road in Stafford. The plant was specifically built to produce heavy electrical machinery, including dynamos, alternators, and railway traction components.

During this era, locomotive manufacturing focused on:

  • Industrial Electric Locomotives: Siemens built early overhead-wire and third-rail electric shunters designed for heavy industrial environments, such as steelworks, chemical plants, and private sidings.
  • Traction Motors and Controllers: The Stafford plant developed the high-output traction motors and control systems used across various electric tramway and light railway networks in Britain and the British Empire.

The English Electric Era (1918–1968)

In 1918, English Electric was formed through the amalgamation of several prominent engineering firms, including the Siemens works in Stafford, Dick, Kerr & Co. in Preston, and the Phoenix Dynamo Manufacturing Company in Bradford. Following the merger, the Stafford facility became the operational hub for heavy electrical power engineering.

Within English Electric's locomotive manufacturing operations, Stafford's production centered on two primary categories:

Complete Industrial and Mining Locomotives

Stafford maintained dedicated shops for the design and complete assembly of specialized industrial locomotives, including:

  • Battery-Electric Mining Locomotives: Flameproof, low-profile battery locomotives built specifically for the National Coal Board (NCB) and international mining operations.
  • Trolley-Electric Shunters: Narrow-gauge and standard-gauge electric locomotives used in quarries, tunneling projects, and industrial complexes where steam or internal combustion posed safety hazards.

Mainline Traction Components and Transformers

For mainline diesel-electric and pure electric locomotives, English Electric divided production across its Northern facilities. While mechanical frames and bodies were largely built at the Dick, Kerr works in Preston or the Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows, Stafford produced the core electrical propulsion systems, including:

  • Traction Transformers and Rectifiers: Stafford designed and built the step-down transformers and mercury-arc (and later silicon) rectifiers for the 25kV AC electric locomotives introduced during the West Coast Main Line electrification, including British Rail Classes 81, 83, and 86.
  • Tap Changers and Switchgear: The complex electrical switching equipment required to regulate locomotive power was manufactured and tested directly at the Stafford works.

Later Years and Transition

Following the takeover of English Electric by the General Electric Company (GEC) in 1968, the Stafford site continued to supply power electronics and propulsion systems for domestic and international rail projects under GEC Traction and later GEC-Alsthom. While complete locomotive assembly at Stafford ceased as manufacturing consolidated, the site remained a critical supplier of heavy rail electrical engineering throughout the twentieth century.