A. L. Beattie

Alfred Luther Beattie JP (1852 – 2 May 1920),[1] typically referred to as A. L. Beattie,[2] was a pioneering locomotive engineer. Born in Yorkshire, England,[3] he gained fame as the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the New Zealand Railways Department (NZR) between 1900 and 1913. During this time, Beattie designed the Q class, the first 4-6-2 (Pacific) steam locomotive class in the world, and he was also one of the earliest people to use other wheel arrangements.

  1. ^ T. A. McGavin, Steam Locomotives of New Zealand, vol. 1 (Wellington: New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society, 1987–91), pg. 53.
  2. ^ In all the literature cited in the references, almost every mention of Beattie refers to him by his initials; only once is his full name given.
  3. ^ The Rock, September 2010 http://www.stpeterscaversham.org.nz/The%20Rock/1009.pdf