Francis William Webb (21 May 1836 – 4 June 1906) was an English railway engineer, responsible for the design and manufacture of locomotives for the London and North Western Railway (LNWR). Webb was born in Tixall Rectory, near Stafford, the second son of William Webb, Rector of Tixall.
Showing early interest in mechanical engineering, on 11 August 1851 at the age of fifteen he was articled as a pupil of Francis Trevithick at Crewe Works.[1] Webb joined the drawing office in 1856, at the end of his training.[1] He became Chief Draughtsman on 1 March 1859.[1] On 1 September 1861 he was appointed Works Manager at Crewe and Chief Assistant to John Ramsbottom.[1] Whilst Works Manager Webb was responsible for the installation of Bessemer converters and the start of steel production at Crewe.[1]
Bolton Iron and Steel Company
In July 1866 Webb resigned from the LNWR and moved to the Bolton Iron and Steel Co. as the manager.[1] It has been suggested that this move was arranged by the LNWR management to enable him to gain experience of steel making.
Return to Crewe
Ramsbottom gave 12 months notice of his resignation in September 1870. Shortly afterwards the Works Manager, Thomas Stubbs, died aged 34. Stubbs may have been Ramsbottom's intended successor. The Chairman of the LNWR, Richard Moon, contacted Webb and invited him to return to Crewe. In October 1870 Moon was able to inform Webb that his appointment as Locomotive Superintendent had been approved. Webb's salary was set at £2,000 for the first year, and £3,000 for the second and subsequent years.[1] Webb took up his position on 1 October 1871.[2] Webb became Chief Mechanical Engineer when the post of Locomotive Superintendent was renamed. It appears that this happened soon after Webb took up his duties.[3] At the same time he also became President of the Crewe Mechanics' Institute, where he had for some time taught engineering drawing during his first stay at Crewe.[3] Webb remained as CME of the LNWR until 1 July 1903, having tendered his resignation in November 1902.[4] His successor, George Whale, was appointed in April 1903. Whale took over Webb's position somewhat earlier than planned, as Webb became seriously ill in June.[4]
Locomotive classes
No. 1881 Class B locomotive of the London & North Western Railway, a Webb 0-8-0 four cylinder compound.
Webb was responsible throughout his career for some highly successful standard locomotive classes, all built at Crewe in considerable numbers. Notable amongst these is the Precedent class of 2-4-0 (known as Jumbos), an 0-6-0 general purpose freight design, ("Coal Engine") and its 0-6-2 ("Coal Tank") variant, a celebrated 0-6-0 mixed traffic design ("Cauliflowers"), and an 0-8-0 freight locomotive with two compound variants and a simple expansion version produced in parallel, The last-mentioned was continuously developed and built down to LMS days, most earlier locomotives being rebuilt to conform.
Controversy
There does however remain some controversy over Webb's own two distinct compound systems applied to a number of locomotive designs, which are reputed to have given considerable trouble in service. The Webb Experiment or Improved Precedent class were withdrawn by his successor George Whale soon after he succeeded Webb in 1903.[citation needed]
An obituary in The Engineer (8 June 1906) criticised his express compound design, which used un-coupled high and low pressure cylinders, a design promoted by Webb alone.[5] The article caused open debate in the pages of the journal, mostly based on the perceived flaw of not utilising coupling rods.[5][6] In the 20 June edition the editor of the journal continued the attack on the deceased engineer, stating:[5]
It is a noteworthy fact that no railway authority in Great Britain and Ireland ever believed in these engines; Mr. Webb, and Mr. Webb only, had faith in them. Precisely on what evidence that faith was based we have never been able to discover
Webb was also responsible for the remodelling of Crewe station which involved the building of four tracks in underpasses on the west side of the station to carry freight trains.
Webb took a great interest in local politics and was an Alderman on the Crewe Town Council and was Mayor twice, in 1887 and 1888. He was also an Alderman on Cheshire County Council - useful for the LNWR as the council controlled matters relating to the railway, including the rates the company paid. Webb also served as a magistrate.[7]
Philanthropy
In Crewe he was for very many years remembered as a major benefactor of the "Webb Orphanage", a beautiful red-brick building with extensive playing fields behind the railway works and fronting on Victoria Avenue
In 1887, together with Richard Moon, chairman of the LNWR, he presented, to the Crewe Corporation, on behalf of the railway company, Queen's Park, a large and beautifully landscaped park with attractive entrance gates and lodges (complete with inscribed decoration mentioning both Moon and Webb) and also fronting on Victoria Avenue. He also helped Crewe Alexandra cricket club relocate from the Alexandra Recreation Ground on Nantwich Road to a new ground off Earle Street in 1898.[7]
"Frank Webb Avenue", a much later Crewe residential street, also recalls his name.
Retirement and death
He retired in 1903 to Bournemouth, where he died in 1906, aged 70. He had never married.
A complex man, with very great capabilities, deep sensitivity and tolerance yet sometimes an unapproachable martinet, blind to the faults of his later compound locomotives.
^ abDyer, Liam; Day, Dave. The Industrial Middle Class and the Development of Sport in a Railway Town(PDF). Manchester Metropolitan University. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
^The Personalities, London and North Western Railway Society
Bibliography
Chacksfield, J.E. (2007). F.W. Webb: in the right place at the right time. Usk: Oakwood Press.
Griffiths, D. (1991). Locomotive Engineers of the LMS and its Major Constituent Companies. Sparkford: Patrick Stephens, Haynes.
Spink, John E. (2011). F.W. Webb, 1836-1906. A Bibliography. London & North Western Railway Society. ISBN978-0-954-6951-7-0.
Literature
"Obituary. Francis William Webb, 1836-1906". Minutes of the Proceedings. 167 (1907): 373–375. 1907. doi:10.1680/imotp.1907.17150.
(PDF), The Engineer: 579, 8 June 1906, archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016
Publications
Webb, F. W. (1885). "Standard Engine Shed of the London and North Western Railway Company. (Including Plate at Back of Volume)". Minutes of the Proceedings. 80 (1885): 258–259. doi:10.1680/imotp.1885.21473.
Webb, F. W. (1885). "Description of Steel Permanent Way, As Used on the London and North-Western Railway". Minutes of the Proceedings. 81 (1885): 299–301. doi:10.1680/imotp.1885.21385.
Webb, F. W. (1902). "Locomotive Firebox Stays (Includes Appendix and Plates at Back), l". Minutes of the Proceedings. 150 (1902): 87–113. doi:10.1680/imotp.1902.18295.
Webb, F. W. (1904). "Copper Locomotive-Boiler Tubes (Including Appendix)". Minutes of the Proceedings. 155 (1904): 401–410. doi:10.1680/imotp.1904.17927.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Francis Webb (engineer).
"Francis (Frank) William Webb", www.steamindex.com
francis, webb, engineer, francis, william, webb, 1836, june, 1906, english, railway, engineer, responsible, design, manufacture, locomotives, london, north, western, railway, lnwr, webb, born, tixall, rectory, near, stafford, second, william, webb, rector, tix. Francis William Webb 21 May 1836 4 June 1906 was an English railway engineer responsible for the design and manufacture of locomotives for the London and North Western Railway LNWR Webb was born in Tixall Rectory near Stafford the second son of William Webb Rector of Tixall Francis WebbWebb in 1890Born21 May 1836Tixall Staffordshire EnglandDied4 June 1906 1906 06 05 aged 70 Bournemouth EnglandNationalityEnglishOccupationEngineerEngineering careerDisciplineMechanical engineering Contents 1 Career 1 1 Crewe Works 1 2 Bolton Iron and Steel Company 1 3 Return to Crewe 1 4 Locomotive classes 1 4 1 Controversy 1 5 Other work 2 Political life 3 Philanthropy 4 Retirement and death 5 Locomotive designs 6 References 6 1 Notes 6 2 Bibliography 6 3 Literature 6 3 1 Publications 7 External linksCareer EditCrewe Works Edit Showing early interest in mechanical engineering on 11 August 1851 at the age of fifteen he was articled as a pupil of Francis Trevithick at Crewe Works 1 Webb joined the drawing office in 1856 at the end of his training 1 He became Chief Draughtsman on 1 March 1859 1 On 1 September 1861 he was appointed Works Manager at Crewe and Chief Assistant to John Ramsbottom 1 Whilst Works Manager Webb was responsible for the installation of Bessemer converters and the start of steel production at Crewe 1 Bolton Iron and Steel Company Edit In July 1866 Webb resigned from the LNWR and moved to the Bolton Iron and Steel Co as the manager 1 It has been suggested that this move was arranged by the LNWR management to enable him to gain experience of steel making Return to Crewe Edit Ramsbottom gave 12 months notice of his resignation in September 1870 Shortly afterwards the Works Manager Thomas Stubbs died aged 34 Stubbs may have been Ramsbottom s intended successor The Chairman of the LNWR Richard Moon contacted Webb and invited him to return to Crewe In October 1870 Moon was able to inform Webb that his appointment as Locomotive Superintendent had been approved Webb s salary was set at 2 000 for the first year and 3 000 for the second and subsequent years 1 Webb took up his position on 1 October 1871 2 Webb became Chief Mechanical Engineer when the post of Locomotive Superintendent was renamed It appears that this happened soon after Webb took up his duties 3 At the same time he also became President of the Crewe Mechanics Institute where he had for some time taught engineering drawing during his first stay at Crewe 3 Webb remained as CME of the LNWR until 1 July 1903 having tendered his resignation in November 1902 4 His successor George Whale was appointed in April 1903 Whale took over Webb s position somewhat earlier than planned as Webb became seriously ill in June 4 Locomotive classes Edit No 1881 Class B locomotive of the London amp North Western Railway a Webb 0 8 0 four cylinder compound Webb was responsible throughout his career for some highly successful standard locomotive classes all built at Crewe in considerable numbers Notable amongst these is the Precedent class of 2 4 0 known as Jumbos an 0 6 0 general purpose freight design Coal Engine and its 0 6 2 Coal Tank variant a celebrated 0 6 0 mixed traffic design Cauliflowers and an 0 8 0 freight locomotive with two compound variants and a simple expansion version produced in parallel The last mentioned was continuously developed and built down to LMS days most earlier locomotives being rebuilt to conform Controversy Edit There does however remain some controversy over Webb s own two distinct compound systems applied to a number of locomotive designs which are reputed to have given considerable trouble in service The Webb Experiment or Improved Precedent class were withdrawn by his successor George Whale soon after he succeeded Webb in 1903 citation needed An obituary in The Engineer 8 June 1906 criticised his express compound design which used un coupled high and low pressure cylinders a design promoted by Webb alone 5 The article caused open debate in the pages of the journal mostly based on the perceived flaw of not utilising coupling rods 5 6 In the 20 June edition the editor of the journal continued the attack on the deceased engineer stating 5 It is a noteworthy fact that no railway authority in Great Britain and Ireland ever believed in these engines Mr Webb and Mr Webb only had faith in them Precisely on what evidence that faith was based we have never been able to discover The Engineer June 20 1906 Other work Edit Webb was also responsible for the remodelling of Crewe station which involved the building of four tracks in underpasses on the west side of the station to carry freight trains He made numerous inventions and received over 80 patents 2 He was Vice President of the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Political life EditWebb took a great interest in local politics and was an Alderman on the Crewe Town Council and was Mayor twice in 1887 and 1888 He was also an Alderman on Cheshire County Council useful for the LNWR as the council controlled matters relating to the railway including the rates the company paid Webb also served as a magistrate 7 Philanthropy EditIn Crewe he was for very many years remembered as a major benefactor of the Webb Orphanage a beautiful red brick building with extensive playing fields behind the railway works and fronting on Victoria AvenueIn 1887 together with Richard Moon chairman of the LNWR he presented to the Crewe Corporation on behalf of the railway company Queen s Park a large and beautifully landscaped park with attractive entrance gates and lodges complete with inscribed decoration mentioning both Moon and Webb and also fronting on Victoria Avenue He also helped Crewe Alexandra cricket club relocate from the Alexandra Recreation Ground on Nantwich Road to a new ground off Earle Street in 1898 7 Frank Webb Avenue a much later Crewe residential street also recalls his name Retirement and death EditHe retired in 1903 to Bournemouth where he died in 1906 aged 70 He had never married A complex man with very great capabilities deep sensitivity and tolerance yet sometimes an unapproachable martinet blind to the faults of his later compound locomotives L amp NWR Society Personalities 8 Locomotive designs EditLNWR 1201 0 4 0ST LNWR 17in Coal Engine 0 6 0 LNWR Webb Precursor Class 2 4 0 LNWR Precedent Class 2 4 0 LNWR Chopper Tank Class 2 4 2T LNWR 4ft 6in Tank Class 2 4 2T LNWR 18in Goods Class 0 6 0 LNWR Webb Coal Tank 0 6 2 LNWR Special DX class 2 4 0 LNWR Webb Experiment Class 2 4 0 LNWR Dreadnought Class 2 2 2 0 LNWR Improved Precedent Class 2 4 0 LNWR Teutonic Class 2 2 2 0 LNWR Waterloo Class 2 4 0 LNWR 5ft 6in Tank Class 2 4 2T LNWR Greater Britain Class 2 2 2 0 LNWR Class A 0 8 0 LNWR John Hick Class 2 2 2 0 LNWR Dock Tank 0 4 2ST LNWR 18in Tank Class 2 4 2T LNWR Jubilee Class 4 4 0 LNWR Alfred the Great Class 4 4 0 LNWR Class B 0 8 0 LNWR 1400 Class 4 6 0References EditNotes Edit a b c d e f g Griffiths p 51 a b Griffiths p 52 a b Griffiths p 53 a b Griffiths p 60 a b c The Webb Compound Locomotive PDF The Engineer 655 29 June 1906 archived from the original PDF on 24 September 2015 The Engineer Letters to the Editor 1906 15 June p 613 22 June p 635 6 July p 18 9 13 July p 44 5 20 July p 72 27 July 1906 p 99 100 3 August p 127 17 August p 179 a b Dyer Liam Day Dave The Industrial Middle Class and the Development of Sport in a Railway Town PDF Manchester Metropolitan University Retrieved 16 February 2021 The Personalities London and North Western Railway Society Bibliography Edit Chacksfield J E 2007 F W Webb in the right place at the right time Usk Oakwood Press Griffiths D 1991 Locomotive Engineers of the LMS and its Major Constituent Companies Sparkford Patrick Stephens Haynes Spink John E 2011 F W Webb 1836 1906 A Bibliography London amp North Western Railway Society ISBN 978 0 954 6951 7 0 Literature Edit Obituary Francis William Webb 1836 1906 Minutes of the Proceedings 167 1907 373 375 1907 doi 10 1680 imotp 1907 17150 Obituary Francis William Webb PDF The Engineer 579 8 June 1906 archived from the original PDF on 4 March 2016 Publications Edit Webb F W 1885 Standard Engine Shed of the London and North Western Railway Company Including Plate at Back of Volume Minutes of the Proceedings 80 1885 258 259 doi 10 1680 imotp 1885 21473 Webb F W 1885 Description of Steel Permanent Way As Used on the London and North Western Railway Minutes of the Proceedings 81 1885 299 301 doi 10 1680 imotp 1885 21385 Webb F W 1902 Locomotive Firebox Stays Includes Appendix and Plates at Back l Minutes of the Proceedings 150 1902 87 113 doi 10 1680 imotp 1902 18295 Webb F W 1904 Copper Locomotive Boiler Tubes Including Appendix Minutes of the Proceedings 155 1904 401 410 doi 10 1680 imotp 1904 17927 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Francis Webb engineer Francis Frank William Webb www steamindex comPreceded byJohn Ramsbottom Chief Mechanical EngineerLondon and North Western Railway 1903 Succeeded byGeorge Whale Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Francis Webb engineer amp oldid 1027506300, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
