Thomas Parker

Who was Thomas Parker?

Thomas Parker was Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Superintendent of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway from 1886–1893.

He designed one of the first practical electric cars in 1884. He continuously improved his design over the following years.

He was Carriage and Wagon Superintendent at the railway's Gorton works from 1858 and then replaced Charles Reboul Sacre who resigned in 1886. He was succeeded in 1893 by Harry Pollitt.

In 1891 he introduced the first locomotive on a British railway to use a Belpaire firebox, which had been used on export locomotives built by the neighbouring Beyer Peacock since 1872.

The continuous vacuum brake and internal communication cord were introduced by the railway, gaining Board of Trade approval in 1893.