Beyer Peacock Gorton Foundry

Gauge: 1ft 6in (460mm)

A 1ft 6in gauge internal railway in the factory at Gorton, Manchester

The company of Beyer, Peacock was formed in 1854 as a partnership of the German born Charles (formerly Karl) Beyer, Chief Engineer of Sharp, Roberts & Co., and Richard Peacock, General Manager of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway Company’s locomotive and carriage works at Gorton, Lancashire. The new company established a new factory adjacent to that formerly managed by Peacock.

In the following years, the company established itself as a leading manufacturer of locomotives of standard and narrow gauges for both the home and export markets.

‘Dot’ was manufactured by the company in 1887 to operate on the 1ft 6in gauge internal railway in the factory, and was used to move supplies and locomotive parts around the factory.

In 1966, after 112 years of operation, all production ceased at Gorton Foundry. During that time, the company had built nearly 8,000 locomotives.

Number / NameManufacturerTypeNotes
DotBeyer Peacock & Company Works No.2187 of 18870-4-0WTTo the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum 1961



Catalogue Number Railway Type Description Image
TYWRM:BP001 Beyer Peacock and Company steam locomotive locomotive; 0-4-0T; Beyer Peacock No.2817 'DOT'; 18in. gauge. BP001.jpg
TYWRM:BP002 Beyer Peacock and Company print locomotive; 0-4-0T; Beyer Peacock No.2817 'DOT'; 18in. gauge. BP001.jpg
TYWRM:BP003 Beyer Peacock and Company drawing "GA drawing of locomotive ""Dot"" together with letter from Beyer Peacock." BP003.jpg