Sentinel Waggon Works Ltd
TypeLimited company
IndustryEngineering
PredecessorAlley & MacLellan
Founded1906
Defunct1965 ?
FateMerged into Rolls-Royce Limited
SuccessorRolls-Royce Limited
HeadquartersShrewsbury
ProductsSteam wagons
Locomotives
Diesel Lorries

Sentinel Waggon Works Ltd was a British company based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire that made steam-powered lorries (steam wagons), railway locomotives, and later, diesel engined lorries, buses and locomotives.

History

Preserved 1931-built Sentinel DG4.
A Sentinel Steam Bus
1924 Super Sentinel FA1803
Sentinel DG8, Beamish Steam Fair.

Alley & MacLellan, Sentinel Works, Jessie Street Glasgow

Alley & MacLellan was founded in 1875 and was based in Polmadie, Glasgow. This company continued in operation until the 1950s. Initially manufacturing valves and compressors for steam engines, and later whole steamships, Alley & MacLellan acquired Simpson and Bibby of Horsehay, Shropshire, manufacturer of steam-powered road vehicles, in 1903.[1] They began producing steam road vehicles in 1905 and in 1906 introduced a five-ton vertical-boiler steam wagon, which featured a two-cylinder undertype engine and chain drive.

Around 1915, Alley & McLellan moved the steam wagon production to a new factory in Shrewsbury and it continued under a separate company (see below),[2] and in 1918 the company also opened a third factory in Worcester specialising in valve manufacture. Both factory buildings were prefabricated in Glasgow for local assembly and in both cases core Scottish employees transferred to the new sites.

Alley & MacLellan continued to operate in the original Sentinel Works in Jessie Street, Glasgow until the 1950s. They produced a wide range of engineering products including compressors,[3] valves, etc. The 'Sentinel' name continued to be used for the products of the original Glasgow works until the mid 20th Century.

Move to Shrewsbury

LNER Sentinel-Cammell steam railcar

The company Sentinel Waggon Works Ltd was formed when steam wagon production was switched to a new factory, opened at Shrewsbury in 1915. There were several other slight changes to the name over the company's lifetime when further infusions of working capital were required to obviate financial problems.

Alley & MacLellan's early steam wagon was so successful that it remained in production with relatively few updates until the launch of Sentinel's famous Super in 1923. The company also produced steam railway locomotives and railcars, for railway companies and industrial customers.

In 1917, the company was bought by William Beardmore and Company.

Sentinel Waggon Works (1920) Ltd

Sentinel locomotive on the Buenos Aires Midland Railway in Argentina (1932).

In 1920, after financial problems, the company was reorganised as Sentinel Waggon Works (1920) Ltd. The Sentinel 'Super' model that followed in 1923 was assembled in a radical new plant at Shrewsbury, with a flow line based on Henry Ford's Model T factory at Highland Park, Michigan, with 1,550 vehicles produced.

Sentinel, along with Foden, dominated the steam market, but the 1930s saw the demise of both companies' ranges as new legislation forced the development of lighter lorries, Sentinel surviving the longest.

In 1934, Sentinel launched a new and advanced steamer – the S type which had a single-acting four-cylinder underfloor engine with longitudinal crankshaft and an overhead worm-drive axle. Their Sentinel Waggon Works' design of 1935 led to the production of 3,750 Sentinel 'Standards' in the seventeen years that followed, the biggest selling steam lorry ever. It was lighter and featured a modernised driver's cab with a set-back boiler and was available in four, six and eight-wheel form, designated S4, S6 and S8. In spite of its sophisticated design, however, it could not compete with contemporary diesel trucks for all-round convenience and payload capacity, and was phased out in the late 1930s. It was not the end of Sentinel's involvement with steam, however; the company built about 100 "S" type vehicles for export to Argentina as late as 1950, for use by the Río Turbio coal mine.[4] It has been stated that Sentinel were never paid for the last batch of the Río Turbio production run. At least two of the Río Turbio steam wagons survive in Argentina to this day.

In 1946, Thomas Hill's signed an agency agreement with Sentinel for repair and maintenance of diesel vehicles. In 1947 Sentinel offered to extend the agreement for diesel vehicles to include the steam locomotives and an agency was accepted by Thomas Hill for sales and servicing.

Sentinel (Shrewsbury) Ltd

In 1947, the company became Sentinel (Shrewsbury) Ltd, and had developed a new range of diesel lorries. Despite Sentinel's superbly engineered vehicles, sales diminished throughout the 1950s, and by 1956 the company was forced to cease lorry production. The factory was acquired by Rolls-Royce for diesel engine production, and the remaining stock of parts and vehicles was taken over by Sentinel's chief dealer, North Cheshire Motors of Warrington, who formed a new company, Transport Vehicles (Warrington) Ltd, in 1957 to produce Sentinel-based designs under the TVW name.

In 1963, Thomas Hill's decided to renew the loco agreement and relinquish the diesel vehicle agency, concentrating all efforts on the steam locomotive work.

Rolls-Royce agree to build diesel locomotives

Rolls-Royce Sentinel diesel locomotive, painted in the bright red livery of Esso petroleum
Rolls-Royce Sentinel Cattewater, now at the East Somerset Railway
An 0-6-0 outside crank Sentinel Derwent at Lafarge Hope Cement Works in 2008.

Despite the various interesting developments, Rolls-Royce did not consider railway locomotives to be part of their core business. They had agreed to complete all steam locos on order, and four steam receiver locos ordered by Dorman Long in 1956, but only after much consideration did Rolls-Royce finally agree at the end of 1957 to design and build a diesel locomotive of similar weight and power to the 200 hp (150 kW) steam loco that had sold so well. Thomas Hill's would assist in the design and development of these diesel machines and would be the sole distributor.

Last steam locomotives

In 1958, the last two Sentinel steam locomotives were delivered, marking the end of an era. Two of the newly developed steam receiver locos were delivered and proved very satisfactory in service, but Dorman Long were not happy. There had been a change of heart among their engineers as well as a change of circumstances, and they were now favouring diesel locomotives. The last two steam receiver locos were built but never delivered and ultimately all four were converted to diesel hydraulic.

Diesel production commences

The prototype Sentinel diesel locomotive was built and ready to commence trials on the former Shropshire and Montgomeryshire Railway (then under military control) early in 1959. It met with the approval and enthusiasm of the Company's prospective customers and before the end of the year 17 locomotives had been sold and delivered. The company was ready to produce a maximum of four locomotives a month.

By 1963, four different Sentinel diesel models were being produced, commencing with the 34-ton chain drive 0-4-0 powered by the Rolls-Royce C6SFL six-cylinder engine of 233 bhp (174 kW) (gross) (later uprated to 255 bhp (190 kW)). This was followed within a year by a 48-ton 0-6-0 rod coupled machine, fitted with a Rolls-Royce C8SFL eight-cylinder engine of 311 bhp (232 kW) (gross) (later uprated to 325 bhp (242 kW)). Between 1963 and 1966, a fleet of these diesel locomotives, eventually numbering five 0-6-0s and eighteen 0-4-0s, was supplied to the Manchester Ship Canal Company for use on the navigation's private railway network.[5]

These Sentinels demonstrated their suitability for heavy work, but heavier and more powerful locos were called for, particularly by the steel industry, and before the end of 1963 a 74 ton 0-8-0 powered by paired C8SFL engines and a 40-ton 0-4-0 fitted with a C8SFL engine had been added to the range.

Sentinel Steelman

A shaft drive 600 hp (450 kW) 0-6-0 machine was now being developed at Shrewsbury using the new DV8T engine. Considerable interest in this loco was expressed by Stewart and Lloyds mineral division at Corby who were operating more than 20 steam locos, mainly of the Austerity type. This new locomotive Steelman was eventually delivered to Corby in late 1967, about two years overdue. The prototype locomotive proved satisfactory and three more were ordered by Stewart and Lloyds and one by Richard Thomas and Baldwins, Scunthorpe. Stewart and Lloyds' programme to replace more than 20 steam locos over the next few years the future for Steelman looked good.

British Railways offered Stewart and Lloyds 26 second-hand Swindon-built Class 14 diesel hydraulic locomotives. The rod-coupled Class 14 were powered by a 650 hp (480 kW) Paxman engine with Voith Transmission and were capable of doing the work required at a fraction of the price of new Steelman locomotives. No further "Steelman" locos were built at Shrewsbury.

In 1979, ICI Billingham wanted two heavy locomotives to replace their ageing Yorkshire Janus locomotives. Their engineers visited many industrial sites, and steelworks in particular, to evaluate available locomotives. Their requirements were discussed with various UK locomotive manufacturers, and they ordered an updated version of the Sentinel Steelman design. Two machines were delivered toward the end of 1981.

UK sales of Sentinel locos were now fewer than 10 per year, their only overseas success had been to license the assembly of 36 0-6-0 locomotives by Sorefame for the Portuguese Railways in 1965/66. These locomotives became the CP Class 1150.

Road vehicles

Preserved 1934-built S4 dropside in steam

Steam wagons

  • Alley & MacLellan five-ton steam wagon (1906) – now commonly referred to as the "Standard" Sentinel
  • Super Sentinel (1923)
  • Sentinel DG4 (1928)
  • Sentinel DG6 (1927)
  • Sentinel DG8 (1929) – world's first four-axle, twin steer truck
  • Sentinel S4 (1933)
  • Sentinel S6 (1933)
  • Sentinel S8 (1933)

Diesel lorries

  • Sentinel HSG (1938)
  • Sentinel DV44 (1947)
  • Sentinel DV46 (1949)
  • Sentinel DV66 (1950)
  • Sentinel aircraft tug

Diesel buses

  • Sentinel 32-seat bus (1924)
  • Sentinel HSG (1935)
  • Sentinel SLC4-40 (1948)
  • Sentinel STC6-44 (1950)[6]
  • Sentinel SL chassis (1951)

Railway vehicles

Sentinel chain-drive shunter of 1957

The locomotives and railcars (with a few exceptions) used the standard steam lorry boilers and engine units.

CE Class

Centre Engine

BE Class

Balanced Engine

DE Class

Double Engine

100 hp steam locomotives

200 hp steam locomotives

Railcars

1951-built articulated Sentinel-Cammell steam railcar, No. 5208, at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre
  • In 1923, the Jersey Railways & Tramways purchased a railcar for use on their line between St Helier and St Aubin.[8]
  • In 1925, the New Zealand Railways Department bought one Sentinel-Cammell steam railcar which became part of its RM class.
  • Between 1925 and 1932, the London and North Eastern Railway bought 80 Sentinel steam railcars and four were supplied to the LNER-controlled Cheshire Lines Committee.
  • In 1928, Palestine Railways bought two Sentinel-Cammell articulated steam railcars for local services.[9] Each unit had two cars articulated over three bogies.[10] Palestine Railways found the railcar format inflexible, as if passenger numbers exceeded the capacity of a train it was not practical to couple up an extra coach.[11] In 1945 PR removed the Sentinel engines and converted the railcars to ordinary coaching stock.[12]
  • In 1931, the Tasmanian Government Railways received two 61 ft 5 in single engine Sentinel-Cammell railcars which became known as the SP Class. In 1934 two more 68 ft 2 in cars were received, and owing to higher maintenance requirements, in 1937 five more cars were received with twin-engine oil-firing boilers. In the 1950s as more diesel railcars were introduced, the boilers and engines were removed and they continued as passenger stock.[13]
  • In 1933, the Southern Railway bought a Sentinel-Cammell steam railcar for use on the Devil's Dyke branch, in East Sussex.[14] Although operationally successful, the single railcar was not large enough to meet the needs of this line. It was transferred away from the line in March 1936 and tried in other areas, but was withdrawn in 1940.[15]
  • In 1935, the Ferrocarril Central del Paraguay (Paraguay Central Railway) acquired three oil-fired railcars with trailers for the suburban service between Asunción and Ypacarai.
  • In 1951, Egyptian National Railways bought 10 articulated steam railcars. Each had three carriage bodies articulated over four bogies. One is preserved by the Quainton Railway Society at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, England.[16]

Specials

The Doble Shunter

The Double Locomotive

A special locomotive was produced at Sentinel, for Dorman Long and named "Princess". It consisted of 2 x 0-6-0 chassis coupled together to articulate. One unit carried the cab, a 5 drum oil-fired Woolnough boiler and two 100 hp (75 kW) engines. The other unit housed the water and fuel tanks and also two more 100 hp (75 kW) engines providing a total of 400 hp (300 kW). It was considered a magnificent machine by the staff but unfortunately was the only one of its kind ever built.

The Gyro locomotive

Another special was the NCB Gyro or Electrogyro Locomotive. Based on a 200 hp (150 kW) 4-wheeled 0-4-0 frame fitted with two "gyro units" (see Flywheel energy storage) made by Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon of Switzerland.[17] The gyros were principally a 3 ton horizontal flywheel enclosed in a vessel filled with low pressure hydrogen. A vertically mounted three-phase squirrel-cage electric motor/generator was directly coupled to each flywheel shaft. The motor took its power from a side-mounted supply at static posts via a four-contact swinging arm extended or retracted pneumatically by the driver.[17] Power could only be taken whilst the loco was stationary alongside one of these posts. When the gyros had reached the required speed, the driver would retract the contact arm, switch the motor to generation and controlled the locomotive in a similar way to a diesel-electric loco. Charging posts had to be strategically placed around the site. A contact arm was provided on each side of the locomotive, although it is not clear if posts were installed on one or both sides of the track. Each gyro operated between 3,000 rpm when fully 'charged;' and 1,800 rpm before recharging. Recharging took 212 minutes and the locomotive could work for around 30 minutes before recharging. It weighed 34 tons and had a maximum speed of 15 mph (24 km/h).[17]

This machine was specially built for the National Coal Board (NCB) at Seaton Delaval. The intention was to investigate the use of gyroscopic storage as a potential method for a flameproof and emissions-free underground locomotive.[17] It operated from 1958,[18] very satisfactorily, but was eventually taken out of service because of site development and its restricted field of operation. In April 1965 it was converted for the NCB to a diesel hydraulic machine.

The Receiver Locomotives

The Receiver Locomotives were another special type built just for Dorman Long and were based on the idea of a Fireless locomotive.

Steam locomotives used by UK mainline companies

Preservation

Road vehicles

A number of Sentinel steam wagons and tractors exist in preservation in the UK—about 117 as of 2008.[19] They are often shown at steam fairs in the UK. For more information see the Sentinel Drivers Club website.[20] A number also exist in Australia and other countries.

Railway locomotives

United Kingdom

There are several surviving steam and diesel[21] locomotives located at various heritage railways around the UK, including: the Elsecar Heritage Railway, the Middleton Railway, the Foxfield Light Railway and the Chasewater Railway.

Preserved Sentinel locomotives in the United Kingdom[22]
Steam evines are Standard gauge, 4-wheel, vertical boiler, geared tank locomotives (4wVBGT), unless otherwise stated.
Name or number Works number Date built Class Where preserved Notes Status Image
6155 1925 Conversion Ironbridge Gorge Museums, Shropshire Mostly complete Stored
Coalbrookdale No5 6185 1925 Conversion Ironbridge Gorge Museums, Shropshire Missing most parts Stored
GWR No. 12
Isebrook
6515 1926 Y1 Buckinghamshire Railway Centre Operational
Joyce 7109 1927 200 hp Somerset and Dorset Railway Heritage Trust Operational
Ann 7232 1927 East Lancashire Railway (Privately owned) Operational
Gervase 6807 1928 Conversion Elsecar Heritage Railway Conversion of a 1900 Manning Wardle Operational
Fry 7492 1928 Avon Valley Railway Operational
Nutty 7701 1927 Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway
(On loan from NGRM)
gauged to 2 ft 11 originally currently at 2 ft 6 after working on the Welshpool railway for some years. Stored out of use
Gas Bag
No. 7
8024 1929 Conversion Ribble Steam Railway Awaiting overhaul
LNER No. 54 8837 1933 Y1 Middleton Railway Undergoing overhaul
Belvedere 9365 1946 Northamptonshire Ironstone Railway Trust Awaiting restoration
11 9366 1945 Buckinghamshire Railway Centre Operational
Musketeer 9369 1946 Northamptonshire Ironstone Railway Trust Awaiting restoration
Neepsend 2 9370 1946 Great Central Railway Awaiting overhaul
St Monans 9373 1947 100 hp Ribble Steam Railway Awaiting overhaul
1 9374 1947 100 hp Jersey Parts have been used to rebuild a sentinel rail car Broken up
7 9376 1947 Elsecar Heritage Railway Broken up
9387 1948 Sandford Station Railway Heritage Centre[23] First used by Roads Reconstruction at Whatley Quarry in Frome where it was No.3, withdrawn c1971 and donated to Frome Town Council (in Nov 1971), put on display at Welshmill Adventure Playground, Frome prior to March 1976 in a yellow livery. Moved in August 1998 by its owners (Hanson Aggregates) to be and a gate guardian at the Company’s Tytherington Quarry near Thornbury in Gloucestershire, painted in Hanson’s corporate blue livery.

Acquired 2015 by the Sandford Station Railway Heritage Centre, cosmetically restored at the Severn Valley Railway and placed on static display at Sandford Station in March 2016.[24]

Static display https://www.svrwiki.com/File:Phearn23092017.JPG
5208 9418 Buckinghamshire Railway Centre Awaiting overhaul
9535 1952 Foxfield Railway Awaiting overhaul
Susan
No. 7
9537 1952 100 hp Barry Island Railway Operational
4 9559 1953 100 hp Tanfield Railway Awaiting overhaul
John 9561 100 hp Coatbridge, Strathclyde Awaiting restoration
9593 Parts were used to create a sentinel steam lorry Broken up
George 9596 1955 Next to the Mid Norfolk railway undergoing restoration
William 9599 1956 Elsecar Heritage Railway Operational
Swansea Vale
No. 1
9622 1958 East Kent Light Railway Awaiting overhaul
Ranald 9627 1957 100 hp Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway Awaiting overhaul
Robin 9628 1957 Summerlee Heritage Park Awaiting overhaul
Frank Galbraith 9629 1957 100 hp National Railway Museum, York On display
Denis 9631 1958 100 hp Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway Awaiting overhaul
7 9632 1957 Chasewater Railway Undergoing overhaul
P.B.A.39. 10218 1965 325 hp East Somerset Railway Operational
General Lord Robertson

WD 890

Army 610

10143 1963 650 hp Avon Valley Railway Originally built for Longmoor Military Railway[25] Stored out of use

South America

Three Sentinel steam locos were used at Amsted Maxion's railway equipment plant in Cruzeiro, SP (Brazil). All three were 0-4-0T locomotives built in 1931 to 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) gauge. Two of them worked until 2014. They were the last commercially operating steam locomotives in Brazil until then. After they were shut down, they were bought by ABPF (Associação Brasileira de Preservação Ferroviária) after a long negotiation that took more than one year. Now they are preserved at ABPF shops in Cruzeiro, near Amsted Maxion's plant:[26]

  • Sentinel #8398 – ex SPR No. 166 and EFSJ #166; kept its numbering after 1960 at FNV and continues as No. 166.
  • Sentinel #8399 – ex SPR No. 167 and EFSJ #167; kept its numbering after 1960 at FNV and continues as No. 167.
  • Sentinel #8400 – ex SPR No. 168 and EFSJ #168; kept its numbering after 1960 at FNV and at Amsted Maxion. After an unsuccessful attempt to convert it to diesel power, it was withdrawn and was scrapped at the plant's facilities.

Models

OO gauge models

Dapol has produce the Y1 and Y3 steam locomotive in various liveries including BR, LNER, LMS and NCB.[27]

Hornby has produce two models of Sentinel's diesel locomotives in various liveries. [28]

0-4-4 DH

  • R3179 ESSO 4wDM Diesel, Sentinel Locootive, 'Cattewater'
  • R3180 Tarmac 4wDM Diesel, Sentinel Locomotive
  • R3353 Balfour Beatty, Sentinel Diesel
  • R30009 London Carriers International, Sentinel, 0-4-0, 'Jean'
  • R30010 Hitachi, Sentinel, 0-4-0, 'Chiaki Ueda'


0-6-0 DH

  • R30083 Port of Bristol Authority, Sentinel, 0-6-0, 39
  • R300084 MSC, Sentinel, 0-6-0, 3001
  • R300085 NCB, Sentinel, 0-6-0, Stanton No. 57
  • R30306 London Transport, Sentinel, 0-6-0, DL. 81
  • R30307 Potter Logistics, Sentinel, 0-6-0, 'Pride of the Fens'

O gauge models

Dapol has produce the Y1 and Y3 steam locomotive in various liveries including BR, LNER, LMS and NCB.

See also

References

  1. Cassier's Magazine. L. Cassier Company. 1905. p. 500.
  2. Holland, Julian (1 May 2012). Amazing & Extraordinary Facts Steam Age. David & Charles. pp. 128–. ISBN 978-1-4463-5619-7.
  3. Kennedy, Rankin (1905). "Sentinel" Air Compressors. The Book of Modern Engines and Power Generators. Vol. VI. London: Caxton. pp. 132–140.
  4. "Railways of the Far South". Archived from the original on 19 September 2009.
  5. Thorpe, Don (1984). The railways of the Manchester Ship Canal. Poole, Dorset: Oxford Pub. Co. pp. 140–146, 185. ISBN 0860932885.
  6. "Restoration of Sentinel STC6-44 bus ODE182". Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  7. Andy Chapman. "Sentinel Steam Loco 7109: A Warm Welcome!". Sentinel7109.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  8. "LNER Encyclopedia: The Sentinel Steam Railcars". www.lner.info.
  9. Cotterell 1984, p. 49
  10. Cotterell 1984, p. 60
  11. Cotterell 1984, pp. 49–50
  12. Cotterell 1984, p. 50
  13. Tasmanian Transport Museum. "Carriages". Tasmanian Transport Museum. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  14. Casserley, H. C. (28 January 2007). "Sentinel railcar at The Dyke Station in 1933". Subterranea Britannica (Disused Stations). Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  15. Bradley 1975, p. 72
  16. "Sentinel-Cammell Steam Railcar No. 5208". Quainton Virtual Stock Book. Buckinghamshire Railway Centre. 11 April 2008. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "N.C.B. Electrogyro Locomotive". The Railway Magazine: 421. June 1958.
  18. Railway Magazine June 1958 p. 421
  19. True, John B. (2011). Johnson, Brian (ed.). The Traction Engine Register. SCHVPT. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  20. "sentinel-waggons.co.uk". sentinel-waggons.co.uk. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  21. "Industrial Diesel Locomotives The East Somerset Railway". eastsomersetrailway.com. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  22. "UK & Ireland Heritage Railways – Locomotives Database". Heritage-railways.com. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  23. "Menu". Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  24. "Sentinel Works No 9387 0-4-0 VBGT". 27 May 2018.
  25. "NEW LOCO FOR REs". British Pathé. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  26. "Transporte das Locomotivas Sentinels". ABPF - Regional Sul de Minas. 28 August 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  27. "Our new Sentinels are now available!". Model Rail. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  28. "Hornby's 'OO' gauge 0-6-0 Sentinel R30083". www.keymodelworld.com. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2024.

Sources

  • Ian Allan ABC of British Railways Locomotives, 1948 edition

Bibliography

  • Bradley, D.L. (1975). Locomotives of the Southern Railway, part 1. London: Railway Correspondence and Travel Society. ISBN 0-901115-30-4.
  • Cotterell, Paul (1984). The Railways of Palestine and Israel. Abingdon: Tourret Publishing. p. 49. ISBN 0-905878-04-3.
  • Robotham, William Arthur (1970). Silver Ghosts and Silver Dawn. London: Constable.

52°43′44″N 2°44′02″W / 52.729°N 2.734°W / 52.729; -2.734

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