Springburn Virtual Museum

Railway industry

Speedy Peace and Flying Victory locomotives, 1886

The first two locomotives exported to China from Britain were built by Dubs & Co at Queen's Park in 1886 and named 'Speedy Peace' and 'Flying Victory'. Dubs & Co were founded in 1863 and built locomotives for railways in many parts of the world. Their engines gained a reputation for reliability and longevity. Engines originally supplied in the 1880s were seen in service in Africa 100 years later.

The first locomotives Dubs sent to China in 1886, the Speedy Peace and the Flying Victory, did not last very long. Although not the first locomotives seen in China, this pair of 0-4-0STs caused great trepidation amongst the local people who claimed that the burial grounds of their ancestors were being desecrated by the engines running on tracks built near a cemetery.

In an effort to stop the fire-breathing monsters, bound coolies were thrown in front of the engines to bring them to a halt and the trains overturned. After some 20 men had been given to the 'dragons' in this way the line was closed and the two locomotives scrapped.

Source: Glasgow City Archives