'The Lion' locomotive built in 1838 in Hunslet.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Mon 07 Oct, 2013 10:12 pm

I have tried a search of SL but did not find anything directly about 'The Lion ' locomotive. On page 8 of the October 2013 issue of the North Leeds Life magazine there is a report on James Kitson (1807-1885) in a 'They lived in Leeds' section. In the report it states in 1835 James and his family moved to Hunslet "where new locomotive works were being established to feed the railway boom and acquired two partners, with expertise and money. As Todd, Kitson & Laird they set up in a cloth mill, won some orders, and began work. The great Robert Stephenson came to see what they were up to. In 1838 their first locomotive, 'The Lion, rolled out through a hole knocked in the mill wall. (The 'Lion' still survives in the Museum of Liverpool after years on display in Lime Street Station and featuring in films, memorably as 'the Titfield Thunderbolt'.)". I did not know of 'The Lion'.

tilly · Post by **tilly** » Mon 07 Oct, 2013 10:28 pm

Leodian wrote: I have tried a search of SL but did not find anything directly about 'The Lion ' locomotive. On page 8 of the October 2013 issue of the North Leeds Life magazine there is a report on James Kitson (1807-1885) in a 'They lived in Leeds' section. In the report it states in 1835 James and his family moved to Hunslet "where new locomotive works were being established to feed the railway boom and acquired two partners, with expertise and money. As Todd, Kitson & Laird they set up in a cloth mill, won some orders, and began work. The great Robert Stephenson came to see what they were up to. In 1838 their first locomotive, 'The Lion, rolled out through a hole knocked in the mill wall. (The 'Lion' still survives in the Museum of Liverpool after years on display in Lime Street Station and featuring in films, memorably as 'the Titfield Thunderbolt'.)". I did not know of 'The Lion'. Thanks for your post Leodian Its a first for me I would like to know more about it someone on here might tell us.

jim · Post by **jim** » Mon 07 Oct, 2013 11:14 pm

Evening gentlemen.......try googling "lion liverpool manchester". Lots of info, pictures, videos, especially on "Liverpool Museums" and "southernsteamtrains" pages.

tilly · Post by **tilly** » Tue 08 Oct, 2013 8:20 pm

jim wrote: Evening gentlemen.......try googling "lion liverpool manchester". Lots of info, pictures, videos, especially on "Liverpool Museums" and "southernsteamtrains" pages. Many thanks jim I thought it would be you who would come up with the goods pardon the pun.

jim · Post by **jim** » Tue 08 Oct, 2013 8:25 pm

Mustn't be a passenger all my life Tilly!

buffaloskinner · Post by **buffaloskinner** » Tue 08 Oct, 2013 8:32 pm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Titfield_Thunderbolt

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Tue 08 Oct, 2013 9:14 pm

Thanks tilly, jim and buffaloskinner.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Tue 08 Oct, 2013 9:53 pm

It took some doing but I finally found an image of the builders name plaque on the Lion. This is the image in the Old Locomotive Committee website:-It does not look old, so I suspect it is a copy unless it has been very well looked after.This a link to the Lion section in the Old Locomotive Committee website:- http://www.lionlocomotive.org.uk/photogallery.php

tilly · Post by **tilly** » Tue 08 Oct, 2013 11:03 pm

Many thanks for all your posts my thoughts on the name plate are it looks like the real thing.Looking at old name plates they seem to stand up to the tests of time this one has had the Brasso treatment it could have been painted when new I could be wrong. It could have looked like this.

The Parksider · Post by **The Parksider** » Thu 10 Oct, 2013 9:40 am

Leodian wrote: It took some doing but I finally found an image of the builders name plaque on the Lion. This is the image in the Old Locomotive Committee website:-It does not look old, so I suspect it is a copy unless it has been very well looked after.This a link to the Lion section in the Old Locomotive Committee website:- http://www.lionlocomotive.org.uk/photogallery.php It looks old because its well worn especially across one letter. Brass doesn't deteriorate beyond physical wear and I have a similar plaque from the Parkside rugby grounds. The black infil to the cut lettering is all gone on mine as it seems to be on the engine's plaque. My dad was an engineer and he remounted my plaque on a mahogany stand, he'd have been critical of the one on the engine because it's not craftsman mounted as the screw slots don't all line up!