The origins of Kerr Stuart & Co. lie in the Scottish firm of James Kerr & Company, founded in Glasgow in 1881. This company was a dealer in all forms of railway plant and they sub-contracted their locomotive work to Hartley, Arnoux & Fanning of Stoke-on-Trent, John Fowler of Leeds and Falcon Engine and Car Works Ltd of Loughborough. In 1893 Hartley, Arnoux and Fanning were taken over by James Kerr & Co., the firm becoming known as Kerr Stuart & Co. Ltd.

The speciality of California works was narrow-gauge locomotives although much standard gauge work was also undertaken. In later years the company produced a few main line locomotives, including orders for the Metropolitan, LMS and GWR, among the latter being Quainton's 57XX pannier tank, No. 7715. This machine was among the last, as in 1930 Kerr Stuart & Co. Ltd failed. The goodwill, drawings and patterns being purchased by the Hunslet Engine Company of Leeds. Amongst the equipment taken to Leeds were three locomotives, one of them being Quainton's vintage diesel loco Redland.

Further Reading: Jux, F. - Kerr Stuart & Co. Ltd, Light Railway Engineers, Locomotive Works List - Author / Industrial Locomotive Society - 1992

Examples at Quainton

Examples Previously at Quainton