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James l'Anson Cudworth (12 January 1817 - 22 October 1899) was Locomotive Superintendent of the South Eastern Railway (SER). He served in this capacity from 1845-76.

Career

Cudworth was apprenticed to Robert Stephenson & Co Ltd. After completing his apprenticeship, he was appointed Locomotive Superintendent of the Great North of England Railway.^[1]

In 1845, Cudworth was appointed Locomotive Superintendent to the South Eastern Railway. In that year, he built the 2-2-2 locomotive White Horse of Kent, which was constructed on the uniflow principle. A water-filled partition in the firebox provided a greater heating area, although it meant having two firedoors.^[1] In 1847, Cudworth established the railway works at Ashford, Kent.^[2]

Cudworth's early locomotives were on the Stephenson long-boilered principle. White Horse of Kent was not a success, being described by Daniel Gooch as unsafe. It was later converted to a 2-4-0. The first engines constructed at Ashford Works were 2-4-0s for the Hastings Line.^[3] These engines were known as the 59 class.^[4] In 1847, the SER purchased a number of 4-2-0 Cramptons from Tulk & Ley, Whitehaven, Cumberland. Cudworth converted four long-boilered 4-2-0s to Cramptons in an effort to improve their riding.^[3]

By 1855, Cudworth started to introduce more conventional steam locomotives. Fifty three 0-6-0 goods engines were constructed at Ashford Works between 1855 and 1876, the 118 class. The engines were double framed, with 16" x 24" cylinders. A number of these engines were rebuilt twice, firstly by Cudworth and later by Stirling. The engines gave over 40 years service on the South Eastern Main Line. In 1857, Cudworth introduced a class of 2-4-0s. Forty eight were built by contractors, and 68 were built at Ashford Works between 1857 and 1875. Many of them were rebuilt by Stirling. These engines also gave many years service on the SER.^[3]

In 1861, Cudworth introduced a class of 2-2-2 express passenger locomotives with 7 feet (2.13 m) diameter driving wheels. These engines gave over 20 years service on the boat trains serving Folkestone and Dover, finally being replaced in 1884 by Stirling's F class 4-4-0s.^[3] Cudworth was also responsible for the introduction of the 0-4-4T wheel arrangement for steam locomotives.^[1] In 1874, Cudworth was appointed Locomotive Engineer of the SER, with Alfred Watkin, son of SER Chairman Sir Edward Watkin appointed Locomotive Superintendent as a salary of £500.^[2]

Cudworth was not one who was disposed to toe Watkin's line, which put a strain on their relationship. In 1876, Watkin persuaded John Ramsbottom to design a number of 2-4-0 passenger engines for the SER, unbeknown to Cudworth. Orders were placed with Sharp, Steward of Manchester and Avonside of Bristol for ten engines each. The locomotives were almost identical to the London and North Western Railway's Precedent Class locomotives. Known as the Ironclads, they replaced the Singles on the boat trains for a short time, but were quickly relegated to less prestige duties and the Singles resumed their former role. When Cudworth found out about the engines, he was furious and resigned. It was considered by many on the Board of the SER that Cudworth had been sacked.^[3] Cudworth died on 22 October 1899.^[1]

References