The Dick Kerr Company was formed by two entrepreneurs in 1883. They were William Bruce Dick and John Kerr. W.B. Dick and Co. were initially manufacturers of the paint used for ship hulls.
John Kerr was a local businessman and conservative MP for Preston from 1903-1906. The company soon moved into rail transport and tramway manufacture, making steam locomotives, rolling stock, and tramway equipment.
Steam Launches
Moreover, the Dick Kerr Company later diversified into marine work. Six steam launches were built in Scotland. Additionally, Dick Kerr & Co. made a range of Gas engines. These were internal combustion engines that ran on Coal gas. They had six strokes to circumvent Otto’s patent of the four-stroke principle.
Steam, cable, and electric tramways
The motive power for street tramways was initially horses. However, by the 1880s tramways had moved to steam-driven locomotive operation. Additionally, other methods were used, such as the use of a cable driven by a stationary engine. By the turn of the 20th Century, most tramways had converted to electricity. Notably, the Dick Kerr Company was active in steam and cable tramways as well as electric.
Steam tram locomotives
The 1870 Tramways Act opened the way for tramways in the UK. Notably, the first steam tram in Britain was demonstrated in 1873. John Grantham designed the tram, and it ran in London. The tracks belonged to the London Street Tramway Company. Unlike later designs, the engine was built into the passenger car. Later, the Wantage Steam Tramway Co. was the first to operate the new tram commercially in 1876.
First steam tram in Lancashire
1881 saw the first steam tram in Lancashire. The vehicle was operated by the Blackburn and Over Darwen Tramways Company. The turning triangle still exists at Whitehall. Consequently, the company was bought by Blackburn Corporation in 1898. Kitson of Leeds made the tramway locomotives.
WW I
During the First World War Dick Kerr’s Preston plant became a munitions factory. They also made aircraft and petrol-engined locomotives that were used abroad. Interestingly, the wheels were driven by traction motors powered by a 30kW DC generator.
English Electric is formed
After WW I, Dick Kerr and four other companies were amalgamated to form English Electric. However the Dick Kerr name was kept for the Preston Factory into the 1950s.
