William Fletcher (1848–1918) was an English writer and steam
traction engine designer.
William Fletcher was a leading designer of Victorian and Edwardian steam traction engines. As of 2010[update] some twenty of his engines survived in preservation, including Maynarch (Wallis & Steevens, 1883); Excelsior (Clayton & Shuttleworth No 34980, 1902), Peggy (Clayton & Shuttleworth, 904) and Victoria (Davey Paxman - 1907).
1873: Married to Jessie Brown, daughter of a Baptist minister, Cirencester.
1874: Birth of Fletcher's 1st child; a daughter Lilian, at Basingstoke.
1876: Death of Fletcher's younger brother Robert, a gifted engineer, aged 22 years.
1877: Fletcher designed and tested Wallis & Steevens’ first steam traction engine; T250.
1878: Fletcher's 1st book, “Abuse of the steam jacket” is published. Works manager with
Charles Burrell & Sons,
Thetford. Birth of Fletcher's 2nd child; a son Conrad, at
St. Nicholas Works, Thetford.
1881: Birth of Fletcher's 3rd child; a daughter Hilda, at Gainsborough.
1888: Chief draughtsman with
Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies,
Ipswich. Fletcher re-designs all their steam traction engines and road locomotives.
1891: Fletcher's 2nd book, "The History and Development of Steam Locomotion on Common Roads” is published.
1895: Fletcher's 2nd edition of 1st book is re-printed, “The Steam Jacket Practically Considered”.
1897: Chief draughtsman with
Clayton & Shuttleworth,
Lincoln. Fletcher re-designs all their steam traction engines and road locomotives.
1898: Fletcher's 3rd book, “A chapter in the history of the traction engine” is published. Fletcher becomes a member of the
Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
1900: Fletcher's article on the “Evolution of the Portable Engine” is published.
1904: Fletcher's 4th book, “English and American Steam Carriages and Traction Engines” is published.
1906: Chief draughtsman with
Davey Paxman,
Colchester. Fletcher designs all their steam traction engines.
1910: Fletcher retires from active traction and road engine design, aged sixty-two.
1911: Fletcher's article on the “Evolution of the Geared Locomotive” is published.
1918: William Fletcher dies at
Cromer,
Norfolk, on 22 December 1918, aged 70 years.[2]
References
^For more information read Raymond Rowe (2010). William Fletcher and Peggy the steam traction engine.
ISBN978-0-9565427-0-0.
^For more information please see Raymond Rowe (2010). William Fletcher and Peggy the steam traction engine.
ISBN978-0-9565427-0-0.
William Fletcher (1848–1918) was an English writer and steam
traction engine designer.
William Fletcher was a leading designer of Victorian and Edwardian steam traction engines. As of 2010[update] some twenty of his engines survived in preservation, including Maynarch (Wallis & Steevens, 1883); Excelsior (Clayton & Shuttleworth No 34980, 1902), Peggy (Clayton & Shuttleworth, 904) and Victoria (Davey Paxman - 1907).
1873: Married to Jessie Brown, daughter of a Baptist minister, Cirencester.
1874: Birth of Fletcher's 1st child; a daughter Lilian, at Basingstoke.
1876: Death of Fletcher's younger brother Robert, a gifted engineer, aged 22 years.
1877: Fletcher designed and tested Wallis & Steevens’ first steam traction engine; T250.
1878: Fletcher's 1st book, “Abuse of the steam jacket” is published. Works manager with
Charles Burrell & Sons,
Thetford. Birth of Fletcher's 2nd child; a son Conrad, at
St. Nicholas Works, Thetford.
1881: Birth of Fletcher's 3rd child; a daughter Hilda, at Gainsborough.
1888: Chief draughtsman with
Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies,
Ipswich. Fletcher re-designs all their steam traction engines and road locomotives.
1891: Fletcher's 2nd book, "The History and Development of Steam Locomotion on Common Roads” is published.
1895: Fletcher's 2nd edition of 1st book is re-printed, “The Steam Jacket Practically Considered”.
1897: Chief draughtsman with
Clayton & Shuttleworth,
Lincoln. Fletcher re-designs all their steam traction engines and road locomotives.
1898: Fletcher's 3rd book, “A chapter in the history of the traction engine” is published. Fletcher becomes a member of the
Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
1900: Fletcher's article on the “Evolution of the Portable Engine” is published.
1904: Fletcher's 4th book, “English and American Steam Carriages and Traction Engines” is published.
1906: Chief draughtsman with
Davey Paxman,
Colchester. Fletcher designs all their steam traction engines.
1910: Fletcher retires from active traction and road engine design, aged sixty-two.
1911: Fletcher's article on the “Evolution of the Geared Locomotive” is published.
1918: William Fletcher dies at
Cromer,
Norfolk, on 22 December 1918, aged 70 years.[2]
References
^For more information read Raymond Rowe (2010). William Fletcher and Peggy the steam traction engine.
ISBN978-0-9565427-0-0.
^For more information please see Raymond Rowe (2010). William Fletcher and Peggy the steam traction engine.
ISBN978-0-9565427-0-0.