Railway Giants: How a British Genius Built a Railway Empire Amid Child Labor and Cruelty

The story of John Ramsbottom, a genius with no formal education, is an inspiring journey from humble beginnings at a family mill to revolutionary innovations that forever changed Britain's railway industry. How did he manage to become a key figure at a time when Britain was rising as a global superpower?

It's 1814, and we find ourselves in Todmorden, a small town 27 kilometers northeast of Manchester, England. This is where John Ramsbottom is born to Sarah and Henry Ramsbottom, as noted by Imeche.org. At this time, Great Britain is one of the most advanced nations in the world. It’s been several decades since James Watt introduced his groundbreaking invention, the steam engine, which would spark a new chapter in human history and transform the planet beyond recognition.

People began moving from the agrarian countryside to cities springing up around factories, with smoke rising from their chimneys. However, for the working class, the improvement in living conditions was minimal. 16-hour shifts, child labor, and often inhumane treatment of workers were common. Don't like the working conditions? Sick? Injured on the job and can't return the next day? Fine. Don’t come back at all; we’ll find someone to replace you.

Unlike much of continental Europe, Great Britain wasn’t economically exhausted after the Napoleonic Wars, which allowed it to capitalize even more on steam power and gain an advantage over the rest of Europe, which was struggling with the aftermath of Napoleon’s reign of terror. Britain’s path to prosperity was clear, and it’s no surprise that it would soon become the world's leading superpower, controlling a quarter of the world's land.

Let’s return to John. Still a young boy, he helps his father at the family mill, according to SteamIndex.com. The family wasn’t wealthy, so John's formal education was limited. His greatest source of learning came from working at the mill, where he encountered small steam engines and, most importantly, the lathe, which he worked with daily. His schooling was minimal, provided by local teachers and Baptist ministers.

In 1839, John left his family to move to Manchester, where he joined Sharp, Roberts & Co, a company known for being one of the finest makers of steam locomotives and other steam-powered machines. From the moment he started, John showed himself to be a clever and inventive young man. It’s no surprise that he quickly impressed Charles F. Bayer, the head of locomotive production. John became Bayer’s favorite to such an extent that in 1842, Bayer recommended him for the position of locomotive superintendent for the Birmingham and Manchester Railway.

John’s career rise would be swift. As the company expanded, more opportunities opened up, the perfect scenario for an ambitious, intelligent young man. It’s no surprise that in 1846, he received another promotion, becoming the superintendent of the North Eastern Division, responsible for locomotive production for the London and North Western Railway (LNWR).

John held this position for 11 years until 1857, when he was promoted to director of locomotive production at the Crewe Works in western England. Even in this highly responsible role, John proved himself a perfect organizer. It wasn’t long before he started churning out innovations one after another. Notably, he introduced the DX class 0-6-0 locomotives, of which more than 900 units were produced, and the 2-2-2 type locomotives, two of which successfully participated in the 1888 London to Edinburgh railway race.

In 1862, John's career reached its pinnacle when he became the chief mechanical engineer of the entire LNWR, the largest British railway, with its locomotives built at the now well-known Crewe Works. During his time in this top position, he focused on reducing the number of locomotive types and standardizing parts as much as possible. The result was a more than twofold increase in locomotive production speed. The development of the railways, thanks to this now-experienced and exceptionally capable, though uneducated, man, gained remarkable momentum.

John’s name is undoubtedly etched in the annals of British railway history. He retired in 1871, and during his retirement, he worked as a consulting engineer, sharing his expertise with many companies, including his former employer LNWR and Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. He passed away in 1897 at the age of 82.

Source: Imeche.org; SteamIndex.com