The George Alliez Archive

George Alliez was one of the founder members of the London Locomotive Club, formed in the early 1930s largely from those who attended a school in Wimbledon. From this club developed the Industrial & Road Locomotive Society (formed in 1937) and when this society divided into the Road Locomotive Society and Industrial Locomotive Society in 1947 George became the Chairman of the latter, a post he held until his untimely death on 16 August 1971, whilst on holiday in the Isle of Man. He was succeeded as Chairman by Bernard Latham.

Another founder member of the LLC was Derek Stoyel, and Derek has recorded that he first met George on Clapham Junction station during "Ascot Week" in June 1929 and suggested to him that if he wanted some greater excitement than the main line could provide he should take an interest in industrial locomotives. To Derek's surprise he took the suggestion to heart, the and two henceforth made many excursions to industrial locations together, often by bicycle. They maintained their records virtually jointly for the next 25 years, meeting almost every week to compare notes.

George specialised in two particular areas - record keeping and photography, and his records passed into the hands of Bernard Latham; his photographic collection was sold, the prints becoming part of the collection of Sir W.H. McAlpine. The negatives passed to Lens of Sutton, and were later held by Derek Stoyel, they are now in the collection of the National Railway Museum, York. Following the death of Bernard Latham on 19 September 1997, George's records (which had seen some additions by Bernard) passed into the custody of the ILS, and a summary of the archive is given below.

Organisation of the Archive

George's main records were maintained on a card index system, and filed in alphabetical order, with appropriate cross-references in many cases where there was a change of name. All industrial locations (including those abroad, but not contractors) were filed in one sequence. Many of the cards have numbers on them (usually at the bottom) ranging from 1 upwards to 3xxx. These numbers refer to the pages in his notebooks etc, which are listed below. Much information, therefore, can be tracked back to a source and dates of visits, by himself and others. Certain major firms and the NCB were not included in the card index, and appear in separate files. Contractors were in a second card index, again with major firms in separate files; many have been added to by Bernard Latham.

There are 3 other card indexes containing works lists, and a variety of files containing works lists and other material.

Summary of notebooks etc

Some of these appear to be those actually used on site, others were written up later, presumably from notes made. Many were filled up at later dates. Locos. seen for the first time have the date in brackets at the side of the entry.

1	Pages 1-91 Observations: 1.1.1929 - 27.3.1937 (excludes Scottish visits) Pages 92-199 Observations 28.9.1946 - 12.6.1948 Pages 200A - 204A Observations 17.7.53 - 22.8.53 and 11.9.54
2	Pages 201-216 Observations 24.6.34 - 29.6. 34 (Scottish visit) Pages 217-238 Observations 7.10.46 - 26.10.46,16.8.47 Pages 239-267 Observations 17.9.48 - 19.3.49
3	Pages 271-338 Observations 14.6.35 - 29.6.35 (Scotland) Pages 339-341 Observations 6.8.35- 9.8.35 Pages 342/3 Observations 11.4.36 Pages 344-360 Observations 1.7.48 - 17.9.48
4	Pages 361-467 Observations 31.5.36 - 13.9.36 (mostly Scotland)
5	Pages 471-558 Observations 20.6.37 - 5.9.37 Pages 559-592 Observations 24.3.49 - 22.6.49
6	Pages 593-652 Observations 11.6.38 - 23.6.38 Pages 653-687 Observations 20.6.49 - 22.2.50 and 18.4.53
7	Pages 689-736 Observations 3.6.39 - 19.8.39 Pages 737-746 Observations 7.4.50 - 13.4.50 Pages 747-801 Observations 4.4.52 - 23.9.54 (with gaps)
8	Pages 803-807 Observations 1.6.40 - 5.6.40 Pages 808-849 Observations 2.4.46 - 11.9.54 plus Durham notes
9	Pages 850-980 Observations 19.9.49 - 19.9.52 (Pages 981-1000 appear to be a gap)
10	Large exercise book (hardbound) Pages 1001- 1185 Misc. notes from other sources (observations of others, press cuttings, books etc)
11	Pages 1185 - 1299 Observations 9.5.55- 31.5.59
12	Folder of correspondence Pages 1300-1432 Letters (not in date order) (Nos. 1428-32 are duplicated)
13	Folder of Correspondence Pages 1428 - 1489 Letters (not in date order) pages 1490-1499 appear to be unused)
14	Pages 1500 - 1543 Observations 13.6.59 - 9.10.70 (There then appears to be a gap in the series until 2001)
15	(Softback exercise book) Pages 2001 - 2056 Contents as Item 10.
16	(Hardback exercise book) Pages 2057 - 2137 Contents as Item 10 (There then appears to be a gap until 3001)
17	(Folder of correspondence) Pages 3001-3012 Letters and notes (various) Other records, in draw files and folders
18	Folder containing lists of locos. at Government Establishments, with index.
19	Metal 4 drawer card index, most industrial firms in alphabetical order.
20	Single cardboard filing draw, containing contractors’ cards in alpha order.
21	Single cardboard filing draw, containing FW/Peckett works list.
22	Single wooden filing draw, containing Bagnall, Fletcher Jennings etc, Black Hawthorn/Chapman & Furneaux and Manning Wardle (nos 1-249 only) lists
23	Single wooden filing draw, containing Hunslet and Hudswell Clarke lists
24	Folder - Miscellaneous makers’ lists - Small firms (alpha order)
25	Folder - Vulcan Foundry list
26	Folder - Baldwin
27	Folder - Hunslet (notes etc, not list)
28	Folder - Kerr, Stuart list
29	Folder - Kitson list
30	Folder - Nasmyth, Wilson list
31	Folder - Sharp, Stewart list
32	Folder - Neilson list
33	Folder - Sentinel list
34	Folder - Stephenson/RSH lists
35	Folder - Manning, Wardle list
36	Folder - Beyer, Peacock list
37	Folder - Black, Hawthorn/CF notes (not list)
38	Folder - Aveling & Porter list
39	Folder - Bagnall notes (not list)
40	Folder - Dubs list
41	Folder - Avonside list
42	Folder - Yorkshire Engine Co. list
43	Folder - North British list (poor after 1942)
44	Folder - Hudswell Clarke notes (not list)
45	Folder - Thos. W. Ward
46	Folder - Major Contractors M-Z (not in card index)
47	Folder - Glasgow Gas Dept. locos.
48	Folder - Locos. registered by GWR
49	Folder - Main Line locos. sold into industrial service
50	Folder - Various notes on WD locos. (incl. RCTS book, 1946)
51	Folder - Ebbw Vale locos. (includes copy of 1902 sales list)
52	Folder - Beckton Gas Works (includes photos)
53	Folder - Ministry of Fuel & Power/NCBOE locos. (lists by location)
54	File - National Coal Board (lists by Area)
55	File - Old works lists - Barclay, Hawthorn Leslie, Peckett, some HC notes
56	Folder - Major Industrial Undertakings (not included in card index)
57	Folder - Major Contractors A-L (Not in card index)
58	Folder - Newton Collection (Lists and corres with Newton)
59	Folder - Foreign & Colonial Industrials

Industrial Locomotive Society