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{{Short description|British civil engineer}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox person
|image =
|caption =
|birth_name = Everard Richard Calthrop
|birth_date = {{Birth date|1857|3|3|df=y}}
|birth_place = [[Deeping St Nicholas]], UK
|death_date = {{Death date and age|1927|3|30|1857|3|3|df=y}}
|death_place = [[Paddington]], London, UK
|other_names =
|known_for = Developing the [[Barsi Light Railway]] in India and the [[Leek and Manifold Light Railway]] in England.
|occupation = Railway engineer
}}

'''Everard Richard Calthrop''' (3 March 1857 – 30 March 1927) was a British [[railway]] [[engineer]] and [[inventor]]. Calthrop was a notable promoter and builder of [[narrow-gauge railway]]s, especially of {{RailGauge|2ft6in|lk=on}} [[narrow gauge]], and was especially prominent in India. His most notable achievement was the [[Barsi Light Railway]], but he is best known in his home country for the [[Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway]]. Calthrop has been described as a "railway genius".<ref name=Bennett>Bennett, Paul
''Pickled Passengers – The Narrow Gauge number 219''. Narrow Gauge Railway Society.</ref> Later in life he took an interest in [[aviation]], patenting some early designs for [[parachute]]s.

==Early life and career==
Calthrop was born on 3 March 1857, the eldest son of farmer Everard Calthrop. He had six brothers, one of whom was [[Guy Calthrop|Sir Guy Calthrop]], general manager of the [[London and North Western Railway]]. The family lived at [[Deeping Fen]], [[Lincolnshire]], where Calthrop was born, and later at [[Sutton-in-the-Isle|Sutton]] in the [[Isle of Ely]]. Calthrop was educated at [[Uppingham School]].<ref name=Hughes>Hughes, Hugh 1994 ''Indian Locomotives Pt. 3, Narrow Gauge 1863-1940''. Continental Railway Circle.</ref><ref name=Gratton>Gratton, Robert, 2005,''The Leek & Manifold Valley Light Railway'', RCL Publications.</ref>

Calthrop started work with [[Robert Stephenson and Company]] and then was apprenticed to the London & North Western Railway at [[Crewe]] in 1874. In 1879 he joined the [[Great Western Railway]], where he rose to assistant manager of the Carriage and Wagon Works. In 1882 he went to India to join the [[Great Indian Peninsula Railway]] as a [[locomotive]] inspector.<ref name=Hughes/><ref name=Turner>Turner, Keith 1980, ''The Leak and Manifold Light Railway'', Newton Abbot, David & Charles.</ref>

Once in India, Calthrop came to see narrow-gauge railways as a way to help develop the country. This led him to chairing a Government committee to investigate light railways throughout India. He then published a pamphlet entitled ''A System of Standard Details as applied to the Construction of Rolling Stock in India''. As a result of this pamphlet, the Indian Government adopted systems of uniformity of gauge and equipment throughout the country, and eventually adopted {{RailGauge|2ft6in}} gauge as the standard narrow gauge throughout the country.<ref name=Gratton/>

Calthrop requested leave in 1886 to investigate proposals for independent branch lines. He identified two schemes of particular interest, a {{convert|5|mi|km|0|adj=on}} tramway connecting the [[Hindu]] religious centre of [[Nasik]] with the railway, and a {{convert|21|mi|km|adj=on}} branch line to the town of [[Barsi]]. The Great Indian Peninsula Railway approved both schemes, and Calthrop surveyed both lines. In 1887, he registered the Indian Railways Feeder Lines Company in London to promote the construction of feeders to the railway. The Great Indian Peninsula Railway suggested that he either return to his duties as a locomotive inspector or, with their support, resign to further promote branch lines. His health was failing, and so in 1889 Calthrop resigned from the Great Indian Peninsula Railway. Working as a consultant he then supervised the construction of the {{RailGauge|2ft6in}} gauge horse-powered [[Trams in India#Nasik|Nasik Tramway]], using his previous survey.<ref name=Gratton/>

==Move to Liverpool==
Returning to the United Kingdom in 1892, Calthrop established a railway engineering consulting practice in [[Liverpool]], where three of his brothers had started a [[Fodder|stockfeed]] company. Soon Calthrop had entered into a partnership with them and spent much of the next two years designing equipment for feed production. He took out a number of [[patent]]s relating to the equipment and to [[refrigerate]]d transport.<ref name=Gratton/>

While Calthrop was resident in Liverpool, the [[Chamber of Commerce]] was concerned future expansion was being limited by the railway companies that linked that city with [[Manchester]], and invited proposals for alternative methods for moving goods. Calthrop proposed a system of narrow-gauge railways linking the two cities, running along streets directly serving factories. His proposal was highly commended, but the proposed street running precluded its adoption.<ref name=Gratton/>

Calthrop was also interested in road transport. He was a member of the Self-Propelled Traffic Association and in May 1898 was a judge at their trials for "motor vehicles for heavy traffic", held in Liverpool. The winner was a [[Thornycroft]] 4-ton [[steam wagon]]. Later he was a foundation member of the [[Royal Automobile Club]].<ref name=Gratton/>

==Development of narrow-gauge concepts and the Barsi Light Railway==
During his time in India Calthrop developed his ideas on the construction of narrow-gauge railways. He surmised that the [[axle load]] on the [[axle]]s of all [[rolling stock]], including locomotives, could be equal, allowing a maximum loading of goods wagons. He settled on a loading of {{convert|5|LT|t ST|1}} per [[Axle load|axle]], which was light enough to allow railway lines to be built with {{convert|30|lb/yd|kg/m|1|abbr=off|lk=in}} [[Rail profile|rail]]. It also allowed the loading of one {{convert|20|LT|t ST|1}} capacity 4-wheel standard-gauge wagon to be carried on a single bogie narrow-gauge wagon. Further, he argued that using a track gauge of {{RailGauge|2ft6in}} gave the greatest capacity as a percentage of capital cost. He estimated a {{RailGauge|2ft6in}} gauge railway could be built to four times the length of a standard-gauge railway for the same capital cost.<ref name=Gratton/><ref name=Calthrop>Calthrop, E. R., 1997,''Light Railway Construction'', Plateway Press.</ref>

Calthrop had been engaged in negotiations with the Indian government for concessions to build a railway from Barsi Road to Barsi since 1887. In 1895, negotiations reached a satisfactory conclusion, and Calthrop formed a new company to build the [[Barsi Light Railway]], and employed himself as consulting engineer.<ref name=Gratton/> The railway became a showcase for his ideas. Five [[0-8-4]]T locomotives, with even distribution of axle load, were constructed to Calthrop's specification by [[Kitson & Co.]] The goods rolling stock was constructed on common {{Convert|25|x|7|ft}} pressed steel underframes, reducing [[tare weight]] and maximising potential wagon loads.

Calthrop recognised the importance of railways in warfare, and designed the rolling stock to facilitate the movement of troops and equipment.<ref name=Calthrop/> Rolling stock rode on pressed-steel [[Fox bogie]]s, using the [[Timmis system]] of [[Coil spring|double coiled springs]].<ref name=Engineering>anon ''Engineering'' 12 January 1897.</ref> The line was constructed with rail inclination, then a new idea, which involves tilting the rail a few degrees to make its surface more nearly parallel with that of the tyre. Inclination is now applied universally to railways.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.narrow-gauge-pleasure.co.uk/rlyleekandmanifold.html |title=The Leek and Manifold Light Railway |access-date=2008-06-02 |author=Lewis, Nick |work=Narrow Gauge Pleasure |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509050715/http://www.narrow-gauge-pleasure.co.uk/rlyleekandmanifold.html |archive-date=9 May 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The rolling stock could accept {{convert|100|ft|m|2|adj=on}} radius curves.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article61295829 |title=Light Railways for the Colonies. |newspaper=[[The Daily Examiner|Clarence and Richmond Examiner (Grafton, NSW : 1889–1915)]] |location=Grafton, NSW |date=16 August 1898 |access-date=15 August 2012 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

Prior to shipment of the rolling stock to India, Calthrop and the manufacturer ([[Leeds Forge Company]]) conducted tests on a specially-built test track located at [[Newlay]], near [[Leeds]]. The line was opened for inspection by railway officials and journalists, and a number of reports were published in the technical railway press.<ref name=NGIRMR>anon ''E R Calthrop & the Newlay Exhibition'' Narrow Gauge & Industrial Railway Modelling Review No. 69 Jan 2007</ref>

The Barsi Light Railway opened in 1897, and was extended on a number of occasions until it reached a total length of {{Convert|202|mi|km}} in 1927.<ref name=Hughes/> The line is seen as having revolutionised the narrow-gauge railway system on Indian subcontinent,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.irfca.org/articles/isrs/isrs082004-steam-history.html |title=Steam in History |access-date=2008-06-02 |author=Bhandari, R R |work=The IRFCA Server |publisher=Indian Railways Fan Club}}</ref> and the railway was immensely successful, establishing Calthrop as one of the leading figures in the field.<ref name=Turner/> Calthrop remained consulting engineer until he retired due to poor health two years before his death.<ref name=Gratton/> The Barsi Light Railway continued to be operated as a privately owned railway until 1954 when it was purchased by the Indian government, and continued to operate as a narrow-gauge railway until conversion to [[broad gauge]] began in the late 1990s as part of [[Indian Railways]] conversion program for all metre- and narrow-gauge lines.<ref name=Marshall>Marshall, Lawrence C., 2001 ''Indian Narrow Gauge Steam Remembered'' Plateway Press, East Harling</ref>

==Involvement in other railways==
With the success of the Barsi Light Railway, Calthrop was in demand as a consultant for other narrow-gauge railway projects.<ref name=Turner/>

===Barbados Railway===
{{main|Barbados Railway}}
The [[Barbados Railway]] opened in 1883 as a {{RailGauge|3ft6in|lk=on}} gauge railway from [[Bridgetown]] to [[Saint Andrew, Barbados|St Andrew]], [[Barbados]]. By 1897, the railway and its rolling stock was in very poor condition. Further, much of the railway had been constructed with rail too light for the locomotives. A new company was established in 1898 to rebuild and operate the railway, and Calthrop was engaged as consulting engineer. Calthrop arranged for the railway to be rebuilt in {{RailGauge|2ft6in|lk=on}} gauge, and had [[Baldwin Locomotive Works]] build four new locomotives, two [[2-8-2]]T's, a [[2-6-0]]T and an [[0-6-0]]T.<ref name=Horsford>Horsford, Jim 2004 ''From the Caribbean to the Atlantic: a brief history of the Barbados Railway''. Locomotives International.</ref>

===Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway===
{{main|Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway}}
Calthrop appeared at the Light Railway Inquiry for the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway on 3–4 August 1897, and spoke particularly on the proposed open level crossings and the use of [[transporter wagon]]s. Calthrop claimed it only took three minutes to transfer wagons, based on his experience on the Barsi Light Railway. However, the order was not made until 8 September 1899, and in early 1900, the proprietors reached agreement with the [[Cambrian Railways]] to build the line. Their engineer, Alfred J. Collins, took charge of the engineering requirements, with consequent conservative 4-wheel wagons and other provisions.<ref name=Cartwright>Cartwright R.J., 2002, ''The Welshpool and Llanfair'', Rail Romances</ref>

===Victorian Railways narrow-gauge lines===
{{main|Victorian Railways}}
In 1898 Calthrop corresponded with the government of the colony of [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], Australia, regarding proposals for the construction of [[Narrow-gauge lines of the Victorian Railways|narrow-gauge lines]] in that colony. Subsequently, on his advice, the gauge of the railways as built was changed from {{RailGauge|2ft|lk=on}} to {{RailGauge|2ft6in}}.<ref name=Downs>Downs, Edward A. 1963 ''Speed Limit 20''. Australian Railway Historical Society.</ref>

===Fayoum Light Railway===
{{main|Fayoum Light Railway}}
Calthrop was appointed to advise on engineering matters for this {{RailGauge|750mm|lk=on}} gauge [[Egypt]]ian light railway, construction of which began in 1898. The railway comprised seven, mostly roadside, branch lines with a total length of {{convert|97|mi|km}}. The Fayoum Light Railway served an irrigation district south of [[Cairo]], centred on the provincial capital of [[Medinet-el-Fayum]]. Calthrop used pictures of rolling stock from the railway to illustrate a chapter he wrote for the book ''Pioneer Irrigation and Light Railways''.<ref name=Gratton/>

===Serbian narrow-gauge railways===
Calthrop was one of several foreign concessionaires involved with the initial development of {{RailGauge|760mm|allk=on}} gauge railways in Serbia after 1898.<ref name=Chester>Chester, Keith. 2008 ''The Narrow Gauge Railways of Bosnia-Hercegovina''. Frank Setvalls Forlag, Malmo.</ref>

===Cleobury Mortimer and Ditton Priors Light Railway===
{{main|Cleobury Mortimer and Ditton Priors Light Railway}}
The Cleobury Mortimer and Ditton Priors Light Railway was a {{Convert|12.3|mi|km|adj=on}} long standard-gauge branch line linking the Great Western Railway at [[Cleobury Mortimer]] in [[Shropshire]] with mineral deposits in the [[Clee Hills]]. Calthrop was appointed Consulting Engineer in 1900, responsible for surveying the route and preparing the construction plans.<ref name=Gratton/>

===Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway===
{{main|Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway}}
In the United Kingdom Calthrop is most associated with the Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway. The line had been promoted under the [[Light Railways Act 1896|Light Railways Act]], and the initial plan was to build a railway of {{RailGauge|2ft6in}} gauge to be powered by [[electricity]]. Under the influence of one of the Light Railway Commissioners the company directors commissioned a report on the proposed line from Calthrop in mid-1900. In early December the railway's engineer died, and on 19 December 1900 the Directors sat down to consider both a replacement and Calthrop's report. Calthrop proposed specifications for the line which would result in substantial savings in construction costs, and so he was offered the position of engineer, which he promptly accepted.<ref name=Turner/>

Calthrop constructed the line for £35,944, £11,000 less than the original estimate. He had Kitson & Co construct two 2-6-4T locomotives, similar in outline but smaller than the Barsi Light Railway locomotives. Goods rolling stock included four coaches, two [[bogie]] open wagons and one bogie van, once again similar to Barsi stock. He also introduced four [[transporter wagon]]s, designed to transport [[standard-gauge]] wagons. Each station on route had a short section of standard-gauge track where the wagons could be placed. The use of transporter wagons eliminated transshipment, and removed the need for large numbers of goods wagons.<ref name=Turner/>

===Matheran Light Railway===
[[File:LBNGR MR740 05-09-11.jpeg|thumb|right|[[Orenstein & Koppel|O&K]] locomotive designed by Calthrop and used on the [[Matheran Hill Railway|Matheran Light Railway]], seen bere at [[lblr|Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway]]]]
{{main|Matheran Hill Railway}}
The [[Matheran Hill Railway|Matheran Light Railway]] is a mountain railway near [[Mumbai]], India, and opened in 1905. Unusually for a railway for which Caltrhrop was consulting engineer, it was of {{RailGauge|2ft}} gauge, with tight curves and 1 in 20 (5%) [[Grade (slope)|grades]]. Calthrop designed a 0-6-0T with [[Klein-Linder]] articulated coupled axles to provide a flexible wheelbase, and four were supplied by [[Orenstein & Koppel]]. Calthrop's firm also supplied the wagon stock and the points and crossings for the railway.<ref name=Hughes/><ref name=Gratton/><ref name=Bhandari>Bhandari, R. R. 2004 ''Matheran Light Railway (1904-2003)''. National Railway Museum New Delhi.</ref>
{{clear}}

===Arakan Light Railway===
[[File:Arakan Light Railway Garratt.jpg|thumb|One of the Garratt locomotives supplied to the Arakan Light Railway]]
In 1910 Calthrop was engaged as consulting engineer by the promoters of a new railway between [[Buthidaung]] and [[Maungdaw]] in [[Burma]], later known as the [[Arakan Light Railway]]. Calthrop had the proposed gauge changed from {{RailGauge|2ft}} [[narrow gauge]] to {{RailGauge|2ft6in|lk=on}} narrow gauge. For this railway Calthrop had built two {{whyte|0-6-0+0-6-0}} [[Garratt locomotive]]s, to which he had attached plates reading "E.R.Calthrop's System of Narrow Gauge Mountain Railways".<ref name=Parkes>Parkes, Kevin, 1993, ''The Arakan Light Railway'' Indian Railways Study Group Newsletter issue 8, January 1993</ref> Calthrop was an early adopter of the Garratt type, this being the ninth order for Garratts taken by [[Beyer-Peacock]], and the smallest Garratt design ever built by them.<ref name=Durrant>Durrant,A.E. 1981, ''Garratt Locomotives of the World'' David & Charles</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Hughes|first=H.C. |title=Garratts in Arakan: The forgotten Buthidaung-Maungdaw Tramway and its articulated locomotives |magazine=Railway Magazine |volume=112 |date=November 1966|pages=624–625 |issue=787 }}</ref>
{{clear}}

==Patents for parachutes==
[[File:The horse, as comrade and friend BHL24291193.jpg|thumb|left|Calthrops black "Guardian Angel" parachute]]

Calthrop was a close personal friend of [[Charles Rolls]], of [[Rolls-Royce Limited|Rolls-Royce]] fame. Rolls was a pioneer aviator, being the first man to fly across the [[English Channel]] in both directions. On 12 July 1910 Calthrop accompanied him to the Bournemouth International Aviation Meeting, and was present when Rolls died after he lost control of his [[biplane]] and crashed. That and a similar, non-fatal, accident involving his son Tev, led Calthrop to believe that a parachute could be used to save pilots in similar circumstances.<ref name=Gratton/>

In 1913 he patented his first [[parachute]]. As [[World War I]] progressed he continued to develop his parachute. In 1915 he offered it to the [[Royal Flying Corps]], and successful tests were completed at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWparachutes.htm |title=Parachutes |access-date=2008-06-02 |author=Simkin, John |work=Spartacus Educational |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515225235/http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWparachutes.htm |archive-date=15 May 2008 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> An unofficial report offered the opinion that parachutes "might impair the fighting spirit of pilots" and the offer was rejected. Calthrop was encouraged to remain quiet about his invention, but faced with increasing losses of pilots he publicised the parachute in 1917. Despite a campaign by some pilots, the Royal Flying Corps declined to introduce parachutes during World War I, although air forces of most other nations did so.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=2503 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130421050106/http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=2503 |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 April 2013 |title=Technology and the First World War, Parachutes and the class war |access-date=2008-06-02 |author=Simkin, John |work=History Teachers' Discussion Forum |publisher=schoolhistory.co.uk }}</ref>

Calthrop's "Guardian Angel" parachute received much praise and was used during the war to drop agents behind enemy lines. In October 1918 an article on use of parachutes<ref>"The Problem of the Parachute", The Motor Cycle, 17 October 1918</ref> stated that the "Guardian Angel" was one of the best known and that "balloonists can take their perilous leap, when attacked by a Hun scout, with real confidence in a safe landing". By 1918 it was known that the Germans were fully aware of Calthrop's work, and supplied their pilots with a similar design. However, when the Royal Air Force finally adopted parachutes after the war, they chose an American design.<ref name=Gratton/>

In 1916 Calthrop also patented an [[Ejection seat|ejector seat]] for aircraft using [[Pneumatics|compressed air]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/PROJECT/YEAR_Pages/1910s.htm |title=1910s |access-date=2008-06-02 |author=Bennett, Michael C. |work=Ejection seat history |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122095053/http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/PROJECT/YEAR_Pages/1910s.htm |archive-date=22 November 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Private life==
[[File:The horse, as comrade and friend BHL24291165.jpg|thumb|Image as depicted in ''The Horse, as Comrade and Friend'', published in 1920]]

During his time in India, Calthrop made occasional trips back to Britain. On one such trip he married Isabel Mary Earle, the daughter of the Reverend Walter Earle, a friend of his parents. The wedding took place on 19 November 1890 at the [[Bilton, Warwickshire|Bilton]] Parish Church, [[Rugby, Warwickshire|Rugby]]. They had four children, Everard Earle (Tev, b. 1892), Keith de Suffield (b. 1894), Isabelle Iris (b. 1895), and Betty Marion (b. 1899). Tev joined the army and became a Colonel in the [[Royal Engineers]], while Keith, after a stint in the Royal Engineers went on to become Assistant General Manager and Mechanical Engineer of the Barsi Light Railway, a post he held until 1932.<ref name=Gratton/>

Calthrop had a great interest in breeding [[Arabian horse]]s. Following the long-term rental of a villa in Goldings Road, [[Loughton]], Essex, he purchased a permanent home, Goldings, at Clays Lane in Loughton,<ref>{{cite book |last=Pond |first=Chris |title=The buildings of Loughton and notable people of the town |year=2003}}</ref> with stables and {{convert|40|acre|m2}} of grounds. It was here that he bred his horses and developed his theories of horse training. Calthrop rejected the cruel methods of breaking horses common in that era, and practiced gentle methods. Such was his concern for his horses that he had them humanely destroyed rather than have them commandeered by the British army at the start of the [[First World War]]. After the war he was able to return to his horses, and wrote an authoritative book, ''The Horse, as Comrade and Friend'', published in 1920. Calthrop was a prominent member of the [[Arab Horse Society]], and received commendations for his stallion, Fitz, at its first show in 1919.<ref name=Gratton/>

Developing and promoting his parachute had left Calthrop drained, both financially and physically. Failing health forced him to resign his position as consulting engineer for the Barsi Railway in 1925, although he remained a director. Calthrop died at his [[Paddington]], London, home on 30 March 1927, in the company of his son, Tev. He was seventy years old.<ref name=Gratton/>

Calthrop is commemorated by a [[blue plaque]] on Goldings, unveiled in June 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.loughton-tc.gov.uk/2bhpl.htm |title=Blue Heritage Plaques |access-date=2008-08-15 |work=Loughton Town Council |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827195716/http://www.loughton-tc.gov.uk/2bhpl.htm |archive-date=27 August 2008 }}</ref>

== Other narrow-gauge pioneers ==
* [[Paul Decauville]]
* [[Robert Francis Fairlie|Robert Fairlie]]
* [[Abraham Fitzgibbon]]
* [[Thomas Hall (railway engineer)|Thomas Hall]]
* [[Carl Abraham Pihl]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Good article}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Calthrop, Everard}}
[[Category:1857 births]]
[[Category:1927 deaths]]
[[Category:Railway officers in British India]]
[[Category:English civil engineers]]
[[Category:19th-century British inventors]]
[[Category:British railway civil engineers]]
[[Category:2 ft 6 in gauge railways]]
[[Category:People educated at Uppingham School]]

Everard Calthrop - Revision history

Eldarmrk at 05:11, 27 November 2025