Description:Photograph of steam locomotive 'Dempster' No 1858. It was built in 1908 by Bagnall's for the Elder Dempster shipping line.
Charles Pearson is fourth from the left and due to the similar family features his father John Pearson may be the person third from the right. John Pearson was a blacksmith at Bagnall's. Charles went on to work for English Electric Stafford and then LMS in Crewe.
W.G. Bagnall Ltd. was established in 1870 in Castle Street. Bagnall's first locomotive was produced in 1875, the company going on to produce machines for collieries and overseas plantations. Eventually Bagnall's was manufacturing powerful locomotives for some of the world's most important railways.
In 1951 Bagnall's merged with Brush Traction Ltd., and in 1959 the firm was sold to W.H. Dorman Ltd. Two years later they were taken over by the English Electric Co. and production at the Castle Street works ceased.