Ward Foundry
Location type
WorksName and dates
Ward Foundry (1810-1929)Description
This was the foundry of J & C Carmichael which made the first locomotives built in Scotland. James Carmichael [Senior] , whose statue can be found outside the McManus Gallery in Dundee, and Charles Carmichael opened the foundry in 1810.
It was located in Dundee a short distance west of the Dundee and Newtyle Railway's Dundee Ward Road terminus. The foundry was on the north side of Guthrie Street, the western extension of Ward Road, between Blinshall Street (west) and Brown Street (east).
The foundry had a broad mix of products including; boilers, forging equipment, locomotives, marine equipment, steam engines, turbines and even weighbridges.
During 1832-1833 the works built two 0-2-4 locomotives with vertical boilers for the Dundee and Newtyle Railway, built to the 4ft 6in gauge. These were 'Earl of Airlie' (locomotive no 1) and 'Lord Wharncliffe' (no 2). These locomotives were converted to standard gauge in 1849 and continued in service until 1854.
The works became owned by the limited company James Carmichael & Co Ltd (James Carmichael [Junior] was the son of Charles Carmichael) and continued to manufacture marine equipment.
Closure was in 1929. The Dundee Central Mosque is now located within the courtyard of the former works.
Tags
Foundry| Nearby stations Dundee Ward Road Dundee West Dundee Dundee Trades Lane Dundee Esplanade Dundee East Magdalen Green Offset at Back of Law Lochee Crossroads Roodyards Ninewells Junction [Station] Lochee West Baldovan and Downfield Newport-on-Tay East | Dundee Ward Road Shed Blackness Foundry Law Incline Seabraes Engine Works Dundee West Mineral Yard Dundee Tay Bridge Shed Dundee West Goods Dock Street Tunnel Dundee Signalling Centre Tay Bridge Minerals Dundee Central Junction Tay Bridge Goods Law Incline Engine Dundee Earl Grey Dock Tourist/other Discovery Point |
| Location names in dark blue are on the same original line. | |
First Locomotives built in Scotland?This works is often described as making the first locomotives built in Scotland. There are earlier examples, including colliery locomotives and Timothy Birstall's 'Perseverance' which was taken to the Rainhill Trials in 1829. |
Chronology Dates
| 16/12/1831 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Line partially opened from Law Engine House to Hatton Engine House with stations at Dundee Top of the Law, Baldovan, Baldragon, Balbeuchley Foot, Balbeuchley Top, Auchterhouse [1st] and Hatton Engine House. Stationary engines for inclines were provided by J&C Carmichael, Ward Foundry. At this time only the Balbeuchley Incline was in operation. Line horse operated. |
| / /1833 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Two locomotives for level sections provided by J&C Carmichael, Ward Foundry. |
