James Stirling (1835-1917)
| James Stirling (1835–1917) | |
|---|---|
| Born |
2 October 1835 Galston, East Ayrshire |
| Died | 12 January 1917 (aged 81) Ashford, Kent |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Parent(s) | Robert Stirling |
| Engineering career | |
| Discipline | Locomotive engineer |
| Employer(s) |
Glasgow and South Western Railway South Eastern Railway |
James Stirling (1835–1917) was a Scottish mechanical engineer. He was Locomotive Superintendent of the Glasgow and South Western Railway and later the South Eastern Railway. Stirling was born on 2 October 1835, a son of Robert Stirling, rector of Galston, East Ayrshire.
After working for a village millwright he joined the Glasgow and South Western Railway (GSWR) where he was apprenticed to his brother Patrick, who had been Locomotive Superintendent of that railway since 1853. On completion of his apprenticeship, he spent a year as a fitter at Sharp Stewart in Manchester, before returning to the GSWR drawing office at Kilmarnock; he later became works manager. On 1 March 1866, his brother Patrick left the GSWR for the Great Northern Railway (GNR), where he became Works Manager at Doncaster, and James was appointed Locomotive Superintendent of the GSWR in his place. Patrick became the Locomotive Superintendent of the GNR from 1 October 1866),
At the end of June 1878 he left the GSWR for the South Eastern Railway. He retired in 1898 and died in Ashford, Kent in 1917.
Like his brother, James Stirling favoured the domeless boiler, known as the "straightback" and cabs for the enginemen. Although not the first British locomotive engineer to use the 4-4-0 type, he was the first to produce a 4-4-0 which could be regarded as successful, with his G&SWR 6 Class of 1873. Stirling also invented a steam reverser, using it on most of his designs from 1874.
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