McManus 168

Archibald Sturrock was born the fifth son of John Sturrock, merchant (later banker) and Christian Ramsay, in 1816.^[1] Educated in Dundee, Archibald Sturrock professed a wish to enter into an apprenticeship at Dundee Foundry. Reportedly, his father expressed his disdain at his son’s decision not to enter into a recognised profession as his brother, John, a writer in Dundee,^[13] or David, a surgeon with HEICS,^[13] or Robert, a flaxspinner at Ramsay Works;^[13] declaring – ‘you want to be a blacksmith?’^[11]

However, Archibald Sturrock’s chosen occupation was to merit him many plaudits.

In 1850 when Sturrock joined the GNR, there were 340 employees in the Locomotive Department and the locomotive mileage was 609,092.^[10] He oversaw the early development of Doncaster and witnessed the rise and progress of the great industrial works opened by the GNR Railway Co.^[6]

‘During his 16 years with the GNR, Sturrock designed over a dozen classes of both passenger and goods locomotives to meet the needs of the fast-growing railway, where the transport of coal and other minerals was as important to the profitability of the line as passenger traffic. Sturrock was accountable for around 40% of expenditure and he continually battled with the chairman and board to persuade them to purchase locomotives, wagons and carriages in time to meet the growing demands of the line.’^[10]

When he retired in 1866, the employees numbered 3,834 and the mileage was 4,873,113.^[10]

As the railway engineering plant at Doncaster grew, so too did the needs of its workforce. In 1852, to meet their spiritual and moral needs, the shareholders of the GNR were responsible for financing the establishment of St. James’ Church, Doncaster (aka the ‘Plant Church’), located a short distance from the GNR works.^[14] It was reported that:

‘The Church of St James, ‘ Doncaster, built by the Great Northern Railway Company for their work people at Doncaster, was consecrated on Friday by the Archbishop of York, the Bishop of Ripon, Bishop of Lichfield. The petition of consecration, which set forth that the GNR Company had a large and extensive plant in the town at which nearly 2,000 workmen were employed who, together with their families, numbered nearly 5,000 persons for which no church accommodation existed.’^[15]

Curiously, the church of St James was built to a design (in conjunction with Lord Grimthorpe) by George Gilbert Scott, the very architect of the soon to be constructed Albert Institute in Dundee.

By 1860, a Volunteer Force was formed in Doncaster, incorporating the operatives and workmen employed at the Great Northern Works.^[6]

Archibald Sturrock, having become a prominent citizen in Doncaster enjoyed a long retirement, of 40 years duration, from industry, free to pursue the pastimes he enjoyed, hunting until he reached 73 years, shooting and fishing well into his 80s.^[16]

Sturrock’s family background was rooted in Forfarshire, his father having succeeded to the estate of Pitreuchie, about a mile out of Forfar. His siblings remained in Scotland but he, attracted by the new technology of steam and recognising that careers were to be made in railway enterprise,^[16] steered a path which took him to England and the heart of developments in railway engineering.

From innovative beginnings with the Dundee / Newtyle railway, Archibald Sturrock remained at the cutting edge of railway engineering throughout his working life.

The family circumstances and career of Archibald Sturrock have been carefully documented by one of his descendants, Tony Vernon, in the publication,

‘Archibald Sturrock: Pioneer Locomotive Engineer.’