James Jackson (1814–1873) – Railway Engineer, Train Driver, Businessman and Thief

A historic engraving depicting the opening of the Brighton and Shoreham Railway on May 11, 1840. A large crowd, dressed in Victorian-era attire, gathers to celebrate the arrival of a steam locomotive at a station, possibly Brighton. The scene is framed by industrial buildings on the left and dramatic chalk cliffs on the right, with spectators standing on the hillside overlooking the railway. The train, consisting of an early steam engine and carriages, arrives on the track as people cheer and wave their hats. The image captures the excitement and significance of the early railway expansion along England’s south coast. The caption references a detailed account of the event published in a magazine. — The opening of the Brighton and Shoreham Railway, 1840. Courtesy of Brighton & Hove Museums.

James Jackson was born in 1814 in Woolton, Lancashire, the son of a publican. By the mid-1830s, he had relocated to Sussex, settling in Brighton and becoming a prominent railway engineer. Jackson played a key role in the early days of the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway, driving the first engine, Kingston, on the Shoreham Line.

A historic black-and-white photograph of the Drayton, a Billinton D3 class steam locomotive, stationed on a railway track. The locomotive features a polished exterior with bold lettering displaying its name on the side. Three uniformed railway workers stand in the cab, two leaning against the doorway and one standing on the footplate, looking directly at the camera. The background includes trees and embankments, suggesting a rural or semi-rural railway setting. The image captures a moment in early 20th-century railway history, highlighting the personnel and engineering of the era. — “Drayton” was a Billinton D3 class, the same class of engine as “Kingston”, which James Jackson drove. Courtesy of Brighton & Hove Museums.

Throughout his career, Jackson was deeply involved in Brighton’s railway infrastructure. He ran a boiler and steam engine manufacturing business on London Road, but it became notorious for causing noise and air pollution, leading to public complaints. His expertise in railway operations saw him serve as a witness in the 1861 Clayton Tunnel rail crash, one of Britain’s deadliest train accidents.

However, his later years were marred by scandal. In 1869, he was convicted of theft, caught stealing a cask of turpentine from the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway. The court found him guilty of running a systematic operation of stolen goods, sentencing him to twelve months of hard labour.

Despite his contributions to railway engineering, James Jackson’s legacy remains a mix of technical achievement and criminal controversy, reflecting the precarious nature of ambition in Victorian Brighton.

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