Tom Hurry Riches
Papers
Railway motor-car traffic. Proc. Instn Mech Engrs, 1906, 651-78. Disc.:
678-718.
In 1873 or 1874 Rowan attempted to sell steam railcars in Britain
but without success, although sales were achieved in Austria and Switzerland.
The LSWR Fratton to Southsea service was the earliest and this was followed
by the vertical boilered cars on the GWR. They enabled more frequent services
to be provided where traffic was light. The Taff Vale Railway has heavy gradients
of up to 1 in 40. The TVR cars were designed to cope with heavy gradients
and the locomotive portion was designed to be simple to detach from the body
and to be able to raise steam rapidly. He considered the alternatives of
electric vehicles: battery electric had been used in Swansea and in Belgium
but the capital cost was high: the overhead and third rail options were also
mentioned.
The TVR car was steam-heated, had oil-gas lighting and an electric bell for
communication with the conductor-driver. The cars cold provide a more frequent
service, set up or set down more frequently and had rapid acceleration –
and could achieve 20 mph on 1 in 40.
Cars were also operating on the GNoSR, GCR, LNWR, SECR, GSWR, GNR, NER and
PTR (where three miles had to be climbed at 1 in 40).
with B. Reynolds. Forced lubrication of axle boxes [on steam rail motors]. Proc. Instn. Mech Engrs. 1908?
Marshall notes that Tom Hurry Riches was born in Cardiff 24 November 1846 and died there on 4 September 1911, aged 64. He was Locomotive Superindent of the Taff Vale Railway. In 1863 he entered the works of the TVR as an apprentice under Joseph Tomlinson and spent five years in the shops and drawing office. In 1868 he was awarded a scholarship at the Royal School of Mines. After a period at sea, gaining experience as second engineer on SS Camilla he returned to Cardiff to continue his studies. He later became manager of the Bute Iron Works and of Bute Old Works under John McConnochie, and was engaged on the construction of bridges, roofs, boilers, engines and general engineering.
In 1872 he returned to the TVR as chief locomotive foreman. On 1 October 1873 he was appointed Locomotive Superitendent in succession to B.S. Fisher; and at barely 27 he was then the youngest locomotive superintendent in Great Britain. He retained the position until his death. He was responsible for hydraulic dock machinery. During his career he was president of the Association of Locomotive Carriage & Wagon Superintendents of UK; He was elected MICE 10.1.1882; M of the Iron & Steel Inst; British Assoc; S Wales Inst of Engs, and other bodies. Also MIME 1874 and president 1907-8. He contributed several important papers. In Cardiff he was active in local affairs and education. His principal engines were the standard 0-6-0s of classes K and L, 85 engines 1874 89. It is interesting that the K class was adopted by Barton Wright as a standard engine on the LYR. Riches was also responsible for the introduction of the 0-6-2T into S Wales, in 1885, a type which had been introduced on the LYR by Barton Wright. It became the most popular type in S Wales. In his interview with Sekon (see below) he envisaged distributed power on trains through electricity provided by a mobile steam-powered electricity generator..
For full details of TVR locos see The Locomotives of the GWR (RCTS) Part 10 1966. Engineer 112 8.9.1911 p 256; Engineering 92 8.9.1911 pp 325-7 (portrait); Min. Proc Instn Civ Engrs 187 1911 12 p 330; Proc IME 1911 pp 1054 6; The Locomotive 15.9.1911 p 192; Barrie, D.S.M., The Taff Vale R 1939, 1969.
Sekon, G.A. Illustrated interview. No. 44. Mr Tom Hurry Riches. Rly Mag., 1902, 10, 1.
Son of Tom Hurry Riches: Locomotive Superintendent of the Rhymney Railway from January 1906.
2004-05-05