Vulcan Foundry Noticeboard

The original noticeboard on the site has now been superceeded by a new Google discussion group with many new features that members of the group can control without me worrying whether it is working or not !

The original noticeboard has now been frozen as it has become too labour intensive for me to monitor and prevent automated spam postings for the volume of genuine messages the board received when it was working.

The Google supported Google Group has been set up that is easy and free to use especially if you already have a google account and has more features than I can offer on the site.

If you don't have a Google Groups login all you need to do is supply a valid email address and choose a password, it's as easy as that.

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Just found the web site, it is fantastic it has brought back a lot of memories for me. I served may apprenticeship at Vulcan from 1958 to 1963 and then as a tradesman until October 1965. The biggest part of my time I spent in the Diesel Shop. the foreman was Chris Hindle and Manager Les Green. I worked on all 22 Deltics, I have a picture of D9000 on the wall in my office. One of the jobs I was given was to do with the Cab Inner Ceiling Lining on number 1 Loco (D9000). The sheet metal for the ceiling had to be perforated and sprayed with a sound proof material. Unfortunately the supplier could not deliver them ready perforated on time so I was tasked to drill a total of 32,000 1/16" holes, it took a full week. At the end both Chris and Les came and thanked me for this, they said the only way they could thank me was to offer me a Sunday morning. After the Deltics I worked on the Rhodesia order followed by Sudan and South Africa orders followed by Shunting Loco's for British Steel. and Battery Loco's for NCB. Some of the men who worked in the Diesel at the same time were. Jack Ritchie, Eric Wall, Don Mellers, Frank Johnson, Bob Fitzpatrick, Bill Stringer, Arthur Middlehurst, Alan Cunliffe, Ken Taylor I think the safety Officer's name was Joe Hamnett to name but a few. Does anybody know if any of them are still alive.

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My father's company contracted a great deal of the repair and expansion work at the Vulcan and as a result I spent a good deal of time as a small child following him around as he visited the gangs he had executing the work there. I remember it as a veritable wonderland of mechanical magic. The works seemed huge to me at the time, probably more to do with them being the only employer in Newton le Willows than the actual size of the place.

Seeing the new locos in their fresh paint about to be shipped of to the docks was always a thrill. Because many of the countries of destination used different gauges to the British they were often sent by road and would always draw a crowd as they left the foundry.

They had one of the best works canteens ever at the Vulcan serving cracking good food for 1/6p a meal as I found out whilst working there during the summers in the early sixties as a student. All the big works had subsidised canteens for the workers not, I think, a common thing over here in North America at the time. Lever Brothers at Port Sunlight were another "must" to get to around lunch time.

I am sure that my inclination toward the mechanical arts and the way I now make my living is in no small way a result of those fascinating days watching the work at the Vulcan.

Charles Dolan

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Thanks very much for putting this site together, I really really enjoyed browsing it. My Grandparents both worked for Vulcan for quite a long time. Thomas Henry Powell and Mary Powell of Oak Avenue in Newton Le Willows. My Grandfather was also on the bowls team. My grandmother Mary was the cook who did the lunches and dinners for the board members and managers. Sadly, I don’t have any photos or I’d gladly share.

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A great web site: My Father, Keith Owen worked at Vulcan from 1957 to 1963 as an apprentice and later as an Instructor in the training school.He does not have a computer and I have to take my lap top to show him things.Further complicated by the fact I live in the USA and he retired to North Wales.Any way he asked if I could post a comment that he rembers the following people at Vulcan and if any are still around.Foremen Rhodes,Waterworth and Cornelius Jones.The following Apprentices Tom Waterworth,"Arthur "spike" Barton B.Jameson.From the oil Engine dept L Green and A Cameron. He does have some photographs of his time there.I did print his article from the Autumn 1961 Vulcan magazine he wrote on Muzzle loading.A hobby that he still continues to do to this day. Many thanks Steve Owen Oshkosh WI USA

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Can anyone help with the following for a 50th anniversary of the type 4, if so send an email via the submit stuff link on the vulcan homepage. A close up of a Class 40 being built and if possible someone/a group of people working on a loco (or a part of one) A photo of diesel engine en route from Preston (I understand that where they were built) or undergoing work at Newton le Willows/Preston A photo of a class 40 / type 4 loco being built at the R.S.H. works Some advertising material featuring a Class 40… I remember seeing somewhere a series off E.E. adverts stating the amount of miles covered by the ‘Type 4’s’ Any data relating to the orders placed…. Time to build, cost to build, price per loco for example. Anecdotes from someone/people who were involved in building the locos… great stuff for posterity, I’m pretty sure future generations (and current generation) would like to know what it was like to work on the locos. pp Andy Sparks (class 40 preservation society)

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Just received information about this site from Newton-Le-Willows 14/4/2007, I like what I see. I have Memories about the VULCAN, I used to work there from 1952 to 1963, was a Coppersmith,my Foreman was Tommy Rhodes & Walter Lloyd. Not checked it out yet,but looking for a list of employees who worked, the Newton Library has a Record of them,but it was hard to see. My name is Billy Cole,my brother ,Clarence Cole, also worked there, in 1950 we lived in Wargrave. I live in Australia,have done since 1964,was back in England last year,stood outside the Vulcan thinking about the time I worked there.

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Hi, I worked at British Railways Rugby Works in the 1950's and remember the Gas Turbine Locomotive on test, it was a fantastic time to work in the UK. So much innovation and engineering which sadly disappeared by the mid 1970's. Keep up the good work, great memories, seeing the photographs of my old stomping ground has made this old bloke's day. George Andrews.

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Hello, Congrats on the website and thank you for clearing up a mystery that's been around for nearly 25 years. Way back in 1983 my father worked in the Ugandan capital of Kampala. In one of his letters home he mentioned that there were steam locos abandoned in the local loco depot yard and enclosed a photo of a rather folorn looking Garratt as proof (I still have it). On my next visit to Uganda I had to check this out for myself and, after a brief word with the shed foreman, went for a wander. Sure enough there were several dumped locomotives (including the aforementioned Garratt), I'm afraid I didn't have the presence of mind to note what they were. Just as I was about to leave, I noticed something on the ground - it turned out to be a piece of oxy-acetylene cut smokebox plating with a worksplate still attached. Knowing that I'd found something special, I plucked up the courage to ask the foreman if I could buy the plate - it was half buried and obviously abandoned. He couldn't see what I wanted with it, but dispatched one of his staff with a large screw driver to remove it from the bit of plating. It took quite a bit of time but the man returned with the plate wrapped up in newspaper and with typical Ugandan generosity, the foreman wouldn't take any form of payment for it. This worksplate is a treasured possession and has accompanied me around numerous houses since, but it was always a bit of mystery - what did it come off? Thanks to your website I now know that Vulcan Foundry works number 6262 of 1955 was a 3' 6'' gauge 2-8-4 built for East African Railways and one of the last steam locomotives to be built by that world famous manufacturer and I even have a photograph of the class - mystery solved! Isn't the internet wonderful? I wish that I'd properly documented the locomotives that I saw that day back in 1983. At the time the shed foreman said that the idea was to make a museum incorporating them and for all I know, they're there still (with a 2-8-4 amongst them??). However Uganda went through a very unstable period shortly after this, so who knows? One thing's for certain though- poor 6262 is long gone, but its nice to think I've got a small piece of it. Sorry, its been a bit of a long winded tale! Keep up the good work, Steve Parrish

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Your site is truly becoming an excellant online museum, I also like the onformal style as there is literally a surprise around every corner. A fantastic site, keep up the good work. Geoff Williams.

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If you send the site webmaster an email via the submit stuff button on this sites vulcan hompage I'm sure he could root something out for you. P.S I think he might have gone to school i.e. Selwyn Jones with Frank many moons ago.

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Hi, Does anybody have a jpeg of the Vulcan works crest. We have just set up a new u12's football team, Vulcan Juniors F.C. and thought it would be a nice idea to use the crest as our badge. Regards Anne and Frank Gawthorpe

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I found the website today and have seen my grandfather ( Charles Newman ) in the 1900 photo of a Modified Fairlie Locomotive produced for the Burma Railway Company. I have long had a large copy of that picture and have just had it framed. The design had everyone intrigued. I would be pleased to hear from anyone who may have information about the locomotive ( does one still exist anywhrere ) or about Charles Newman. I have a poster listing the Vulcan Locomotive Works Fire Brigade dated 17th January 1908. Would a copy be of interest to anyone? Thankyou, Peter Newman.

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Hi, I am adding message on site to see if anyone remembers my dad John Pilling estimating 1953 until 1983, and also my grandad Joe Goodwin, who worked in the iron foundary around about 1930s.

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Hi, I’m the G Singleton in one of the pictures (page 13 Vol 4 No 11 issue of the Vulcan Magazine) on the site. When I came across this page whilst looking up info on Deltic engines I just couldn’t believe what I saw, I’d never seen the picture before. Gerry Singleton, Fremantle Western Australia.

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A great web site, you've helped fill in a bit of family history. I only found out recently that my grandfather, John (always known as Jack) Fazakerley had been apprenticed as a pattern maker at Vulcan. Living outside Stourbridge & having been brought up in B'ham I'd never heard of Vulcan. John Fazakerley.

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“Hi all, I am the webmaster of the English Electric Growl website, www.12csv.com. I am searching for information and photographs on English Electric built Diesel locomotives, especially those fitted with the 12 cylinder CSVT engine. I do have a forum which information can be passed on, @ www.ee12csvt.co.uk. If you think you may be able to help, please contact me at contribute@12csv.com Many Thanks in advance. Phil D”

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I was so pleased to view these magazines on line and would like to express my thanks for the work you have put into this site. My grandfather was Harold Hulme. He was chief engineer for Vulcan for many years; he retired in 1964 after a 23 year career with the company which started in June of 1939 as assistant chief draughtsman. My father, Donald Hulme (now 80 himself), also worked for Vulcan for a few years in the late 40's/early 50's. I sat him down in front of the computer the other day to show him these magazines, and you can't believe how thrilled he was to see his father on page 17 of the Spring 1950 issue. It is a true pleasure to be afforded a small glimpse into Grandfather's working life.

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Hello all you "Vulcanists", Very interesting for me to visit this web site, since 2 of my cousins, Colin Ralphs and John Blackburn worked there. Also an ex Landlord of the Bold Hotel in Wigan , Lawrence ? (can't remember his surname), spent some number of years at Vulcan. Jim Latham Wigan.

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Good to see that interest in our former work place is still keen. Look forward to seeing and hearing lots more news. Colin Ralphs.