Hawthorn Leslie and Company was formed by the merger of the shipbuilder A. Leslie and Company in Hebburn with the locomotive works of R. and W. Hawthorn at St.Peter’s in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1886. The company manufactured locomotives to order for main line companies and later had a number of standard designs including 0-4-0 saddle tanks and fireless locomotives.
In 1937 Robert Stephenson of Darlington amalgamated with the locomotive works at Forth Banks to form Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns (commonly abbreviated to RSH) Ltd. By this time Hawthorn Leslie had built 2,783 locomotives.
The newly formed Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns became a subsidiary of the Vulcan Foundry in 1943 and Hawthorn’s 137-year connection with Forth Banks ended.
The Dapol model is based on the Hawthorn Leslie standard design of 14in cylinder 0-4-0 saddle tank built between 1899 and 1924. They were produced in large numbers and continued in a variety of industrial users, being a small and economical engine possessed of sufficient power for most shunting duties. After the RSH merger the design was perpetuated with a few detail amendments, proving very popular for new power stations coming into use and collieries looking for a more modern engines into the 1950s. The last engines of this type served into the early to mid 1970’s, though mostly then until the closure of a local power station or as reserve to a diesel.
Over 10 locomotives have been preserved in various states. While these engines are too small for many heritage railways they can be found working on several industrial heritage lines.
Specification
The Dapol Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0 model will feature the following:
- Finely moulded body with many separately added fine details
- DCC ready with NEXT-18 socket included—accessed via the lift off dicast saddle tanks
- DCC fitted models available
- Cast wheels with fine relief and appropriate colouring
- Die-cast compensated chassis and all wheel pick up
- NEM pockets as standard
- Powerful 5 pole skew wound motor
- Accessory bag with spares and other optional detail