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John Viret Gooch
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John Viret Gooch
John Viret Gooch FRSA (29 June 1812 – 8 June 1900) was the locomotive superintendent of the London and South Western Railway from 1841 to 1850. Born at Bedlington, Northumberland, John Viret Gooch (elder brother of Daniel Gooch) was the second son of John and Anna (born Longridge).
He became the pupil of Joseph Locke during the construction of the Grand Junction Railway and he became the resident engineer after that line opened.
In 1840 he joined his older brother Thomas Longridge Gooch on the Manchester and Leeds Railway.
The LSWR's first locomotive engineer was Joseph Woods, who was subordinate to Locke, the LSWR's chief engineer. Following two unfavourable reports by Locke in September and November 1840 regarding the state of the LSWR's locomotive department, Woods resigned on 23 December 1840. To replace him, Gooch was recommended to the LSWR by Locke, and appointed locomotive superintendent on 1 January 1841. Officially Locke remained in charge of the department.
Initially locomotives were purchased from a wide range of private manufacturers such as Edward Bury and Company and Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company. From Jan 1843 the LSWR's own Nine Elms Locomotive Works started production with the 'Eagle' class singles. Gooch's designs included a number of singles and the 'Bison' class 0-6-0 goods.
The first LSWR locomotives had names, but not numbers, and this practice was continued after Gooch's appointment. On 9 December 1845, Gooch was instructed to number the locomotive fleet; a numbering scheme was prepared by 16 December, and all locomotives were numbered by 30 June 1846; the existing names were retained, new locomotives receiving both names and numbers.
The numbers 1–15 and 31–48 were given to locomotives of the Woods period that were still in service in December 1845.
After leaving the LSWR in 1850, Gooch was appointed to the post of Locomotive Superintendent to the Eastern Counties Railway. On appointment he was given a free hand by chairman Edward Ladd Betts to reduce working costs of which he would receive 2.5% of any savings made. Unfortunately there were no checks and balances in place (and nor was the move minuted), so Viret would tell the accountant what he had saved and receive his payment. The main target of his costs were the engine drivers where he would sack men and then offer them their own jobs back at a lower rate, and deduct money from their wages for late running or mechanical failure.
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John Viret Gooch
John Viret Gooch FRSA (29 June 1812 – 8 June 1900) was the locomotive superintendent of the London and South Western Railway from 1841 to 1850. Born at Bedlington, Northumberland, John Viret Gooch (elder brother of Daniel Gooch) was the second son of John and Anna (born Longridge).
He became the pupil of Joseph Locke during the construction of the Grand Junction Railway and he became the resident engineer after that line opened.
In 1840 he joined his older brother Thomas Longridge Gooch on the Manchester and Leeds Railway.
The LSWR's first locomotive engineer was Joseph Woods, who was subordinate to Locke, the LSWR's chief engineer. Following two unfavourable reports by Locke in September and November 1840 regarding the state of the LSWR's locomotive department, Woods resigned on 23 December 1840. To replace him, Gooch was recommended to the LSWR by Locke, and appointed locomotive superintendent on 1 January 1841. Officially Locke remained in charge of the department.
Initially locomotives were purchased from a wide range of private manufacturers such as Edward Bury and Company and Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company. From Jan 1843 the LSWR's own Nine Elms Locomotive Works started production with the 'Eagle' class singles. Gooch's designs included a number of singles and the 'Bison' class 0-6-0 goods.
The first LSWR locomotives had names, but not numbers, and this practice was continued after Gooch's appointment. On 9 December 1845, Gooch was instructed to number the locomotive fleet; a numbering scheme was prepared by 16 December, and all locomotives were numbered by 30 June 1846; the existing names were retained, new locomotives receiving both names and numbers.
The numbers 1–15 and 31–48 were given to locomotives of the Woods period that were still in service in December 1845.
After leaving the LSWR in 1850, Gooch was appointed to the post of Locomotive Superintendent to the Eastern Counties Railway. On appointment he was given a free hand by chairman Edward Ladd Betts to reduce working costs of which he would receive 2.5% of any savings made. Unfortunately there were no checks and balances in place (and nor was the move minuted), so Viret would tell the accountant what he had saved and receive his payment. The main target of his costs were the engine drivers where he would sack men and then offer them their own jobs back at a lower rate, and deduct money from their wages for late running or mechanical failure.