Matthew Stirling (railway engineer)


Matthew Stirling was Locomotive Superintendent of the Hull & Barnsley Railway. Matthew Stirling was born in Kilmarnock on 27 November 1856. He was the son of Patrick Stirling, the nephew of James Stirling, and grandson of Robert Stirling - all of whom were also famous mechanical engineers.

Career

Matthew was appointed Locomotive Superintendent of the H&BR on 13 May 1885. His first locomotive design was the H&BR Class B 0-6-0 tender locomotive. This later became LNER Class J23. A larger and more modern version of the Class B was developed later. This was designated H&BR Class L, and later became LNER Class J28. Matthew Stirling's locomotive designs often incorporated the design traditions established by his father, including domeless boilers. His powerful H&BR Class A 0-8-0 freight locomotives were heavily used during World War I.
;List of locomotive designs
H&BR classLNER classWheelsDate
BJ230-6-01889
G2J800-6-0T1892
F2N120-6-2T1901
G3J750-6-0T1901
AQ100-8-01907
JD244-4-01910
LJ280-6-01911
F3N130-6-2T1913

The LNER Class N13s survived into the British Railways era and the last locomotive, No. 69114, was withdrawn in 1956.

Retirement and death

He retired in 1922 when the H&BR was taken over by the North Eastern Railway. Stirling died on 5 October 1931 in Hull, aged 75.