Baldwin Locomotive Works

Matthias Baldwin (b. 1795), a former jeweler and tool manufacturer, was commissioned in 1831 by Franklin Peale to fashion a miniature locomotive engine to be displayed at his Philadelphia Museum. Soon the Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Railroad asked Baldwin to construct "Old Ironsides," his first full-size engine, in 1832. Subsequently, M.W. Baldwin, incorporated in 1831, became an establishment for the manufacture of locomotive engines at 400 North Broad Street in Philadelphia. The poor economic climate of the first half of the nineteenth century caused Baldwin to seek out financial support for his new company, which he found through partnerships with George Hufty, George Vail, Asa Whitney, and Matthew Baird. The company produced engines for a multitude of American and international railroads. During the Civil War, many southern Railroads withdrew their purchases due to Matthias Baldwin's alleged abolitionist stance, but in the meantime Baldwin built no fewer than thirty engines for the federal government. Baldwin passed away in 1866 and Matthew Baird became the senior member of the company. By 1873, Baird had sold his shares to George Burnham, Charles T. Parry, and Edward H. Williams, who renamed the company Burnham, Parry, Williams & Co. In 1890 the company was officially incorporated as Baldwin Locomotive Works, which had been the name of its center of operations in Philadelphia for many years, and in 1929 operations moved to Eddystone, Pennsylvania. The company remained there until, due to halted production and the downturn of steam engines, it merged with the Lima-Hamilton Company in 1950. Baldwin Locomotive Works stopped production in 1956.

Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was the most successful builder of locomotives in the world. Sales of Baldwin steam locomotives in the United States and in foreign markets indicate the economic success of the company and the quality of the product.

The company was founded by Matthias W. Baldwin, a jeweler who opened a machine shop. After he built a steam engine for his shop sometime before 1830, Baldwin was commissioned by a Philadelphia museum to build a miniature locomotive to demonstrate the new steam locomotive technology first developed in England. The success of the model in 1831 brought Baldwin his first order for a full-sized locomotive from the Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Railroad Company which was completed in 1832. From this modest start, the Baldwin Locomotive Works grew into a steadily increasing business. In his publication on American locomotive builders, John White wrote that "Baldwin survived because of conservative business methods, sound engineering, and basic good management."

A general decline in business set in during the Great Depression in the 1930s which resulted in various mergers and attempts to revive the business. Although production increased briefly during the second world war, the decline resumed until Baldwin built their last of approximately 70,500 locomotives in 1956.

Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was the most successful builder of locomotives in the world. Sales of Baldwin steam locomotives in the United States and in foreign markets indicate the economic success of the company and the quality of the product.

The company was founded by Matthias W. Baldwin, a jeweler who opened a machine shop. After he built a steam engine for his shop sometime before 1830, Baldwin was commissioned by a Philadelphia museum to build a miniature locomotive to demonstrate the new steam locomotive technology first developed in England. The success of the model in 1831 brought Baldwin his first order for a full-sized locomotive from the Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Railroad Company which was completed in 1832. From this modest start, the Baldwin Locomotive Works grew into a steadily increasing business. In his publication on American locomotive builders, John White wrote that "Baldwin survived because of conservative business methods, sound engineering, and basic good management."

A general decline in business set in during the Great Depression in the 1930s which resulted in various mergers and attempts to revive the business. Although production increased briefly during the second world war, the decline resumed until Baldwin built their last of approximately 70,500 locomotives in 1956.

HISTORICAL NOTE

Baldwin Locomotive Works, a Philadelphia steam locomotive production firm founded in 1831, eventually merged with the Lima-Hamilton Corporation and became the Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton Corporation.