Rastrick, John Urpeth (1780-1865)

Rastrick, John Urpeth

RAILROAD PIONEER (ENGLAND)

BORN 26 Jan 1780, Morpeth, Northumberland - DIED 1 Nov 1865, Chertsey, Surrey
GRAVE LOCATION Brighton, East Sussex: Extra Mural Cemetery, Lewes Road

John Urpeth Rastrick started working at his father's engineering company when he was fifteen. In 1802 he moved to Ketley Ironworks in Shropshire. There he helped Richard Trevithick with his steam engine and locomotive. He also collaborated with John Hazledine on building Richard Trevethick's early steam locomotive "Catch Me Who Can".

In 1817 he ended his partnership with Hazledine and he started manufacturing railroad track and stream engines together with James Foster. For this partnership he moved with his family to Stourbridge, West Midlands. He was involved with the railway from Liverpool to Manchester and in 1829 he was the builder of "The Stourbridge Lion", the first steam locomotive in the United States that ran for the Delaware and Hudson Railroad.

After he ended his cooperation with Foster in 1831 he started the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway. With this company he constructed several railways around Brighton. In 1847 he retired to Sayes Court, Addlestone in Chertsey, Surrey. There he died in his mansion in 1865.

Images

The grave of John Urpeth Rastrick at Extra Mural Cemetery, Brighton.
Picture by Androom (17 Feb 2017)