F. C. Hibberd & Co.

Hibberd 0-4-0DM No. 2102 at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre

F. C. Hibberd & Co Ltd was a British locomotive-building company founded in 1927 to build industrial petrol and diesel locomotives. In 1932 the company acquired the goodwill of James and Frederick Howard Ltd. and the company moved to Park Royal, London, and began manufacturing locomotives there.^[1]

Many of Hibberd's locomotives were small machines with final drive by roller chain but it also built some larger ones with side-rod drive. The latter bore a strong resemblance to Hudswell Clarke products.

Hibberd used the name Planet for their locomotives but this should not be confused with the much earlier Planet steam locomotive.

Other companies

From 1956 Thomas Hill (Rotherham) Ltd, THR, sold Hibberd locomotives to non-Hibberd customers on an informal commission basis until 1960. The relationship ended because Hibberd were becoming worried that THR would sell their own locomotives to customers in preference to the Hibberd product.

The company was acquired by Butterley Engineering in the early 1960s and in 1964 production was moved to Ripley, Derbyshire. The last locomotive built to a Hibberd design was delivered in 1968.^[1]

History of the Planet name

The origin of the "Planet" petrol locomotive can be traced back to the Kent Construction and Engineering Company of Ashford, Kent.^[2] After World War I, Kent Construction purchased a large number of Government-surplus petrol locomotives which they reconditioned and offered for sale. These included both Motor Rail "Simplex" and American Baldwin Locomotive Works products. Kent Construction later produced a range of locomotives to their own designs. These were based on the Motor Rail "Simplex" but were given the name "Planet". They were sold through Honeywill Brothers of London.

Kent Construction closed in 1926 and "Planet" locomotives were then manufactured by Stableford and Company, wagon builders, of Coalville, Leicestershire until they went out of business in 1928. From this time "Planet" locomotives were built by Bedford Engineering, crane makers, of Bedford but they failed in 1932. "Planet" locomotives were then built by Hibberd.

Preservation in the United Kingdom

Sources for this list include the UK Heritage Railways database.^[3]

The following list is incomplete so please expand it if you can. All locomotives are standard gauge except where shown in the notes:

Notes

• DH = diesel-hydraulic locomotive
• DM = diesel-mechanical locomotive
• PM = petrol-mechanical locomotive

Preservation in Ireland

"Nippy" a former Mines and Safety Research engine from Buxton, Derbyshire, works number 2014 and built in 1936, is currently preserved at the Stradbally Woodland Express Railway. It is run on occasion for demonstration purposes. Several Guinness brewery Planets have been preserved also, surviving in the Guinness Storehouse museum, The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum in Cultra Co. Down, and three at the Cavan and Leitrim Railway in Dromod. The former Irish Shell No 23 is preserved at RPSI Whitehead.

1936 built Planet engine "Nippy" preserved at Stradbally Co. Laois

Preservation in Italy

Locomotive 3944, built in 1960 is now located as a static 'gate guardian' display at the premises of Vaia Car, Calvisano, in Italy.

Preservation in Australia

Australia

Planet #1 at the Bennett Brook Railway's Friends of Thomas the Tank Engine Day

In 1976, The Western Australian Light Railway Preservation Society acquired a 1938 model Planet Locomotive^[9] from the Kalgoorlie Lake View and Star Gold mine for a total of $500AU, including spares. After considerable restoration work, the locomotive was moved to Whiteman Park in Perth in 1983 and moved under its own power for the first time in 1985. In recent years, the WA Light Railway Preservation Society bought a 1968 model planet locomotive.^[10]

The 1938 Planet (Known as Planet #1) is now the mainstay of the Bennett Brook Railway's Diesel Fleet. The 1968 Planet (Planet #2) is currently under restoration at BBR. Both locomotives run on 2' gauge track.

Over the years, multiple modifications have been made to Planet #1, including: The installation of a Vacuum brake system, the addition of a Jones Coupler style coupler along with the already installed Link and Pin Couplers and Raising the roof of the cab.

Another preserved Planet locomotive is #54 at the Richmond Vale railway line, New South Wales.

New Zealand

Two Planet locomotives from the Grassmere Salt Works are preserved at the Ferrymead Two Foot Railway in New Zealand. Another is preserved at a pioneer village in Kaikohe.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to F. C. Hibberd and Company locomotives.

1. 1 2 "Buckinghamshire Railway Centre history of F. C. Hibberd & Co. Ltd.". 
2. ↑ "Planet" Locomotives
3. ↑ http://www.heritagerailways.com/rlylocos.html
4. ↑ http://www.royalgunpowdermills.com/railway_update_june2008.htm
5. ↑ http://www.thedockyardrailway.co.uk/diesel.htm
6. ↑ Pluto 0-4-0DM
7. ↑
8. ↑ Hibberd 4008
9. ↑ Planet #1
10. ↑ Planet #2