Paxman

Paxman is a British engineering and diesel-engine brand originating in Colchester, England. The business was established in 1865 by James Noah Paxman with Henry and Charles Davey as Davey, Paxman & Davey, Engineers. It began as a general engineering and ironworking concern, producing steam engines, boilers, agricultural machinery and mill gearing before becoming increasingly associated with internal-combustion engines and diesel power systems. During its early development, the company supplied machinery beyond Britain, including equipment for the Kimberley diamond mines in South Africa. It also briefly manufactured traction engines, producing fewer than one hundred over an approximately eleven-year period beginning in 1906. The company became a limited company in 1898 and joined the Agricultural & General Engineers combine in 1920. After that combine collapsed in 1932, the business re-emerged as Davey Paxman & Co (Colchester) Ltd. Paxman became particularly important in the development and supply of diesel engines for railway locomotives, naval vessels, submarines and other demanding applications. During the Second World War, its engines were used in British naval craft, including U-class and V-class submarines. Its post-war designs powered a wide range of British and overseas railway equipment, including locomotives and high-speed trainsets. Paxman engines were also used in Royal Navy destroyers, frigates, aircraft carriers and submarines. Early diesel products using indirect-injection Comet cylinder heads designed by Sir Harry Ricardo were marketed under the Paxman Ricardo name. The brand's corporate ownership changed repeatedly. Ruston & Hornsby acquired a controlling interest in 1940, creating the basis for the Ruston-Paxman Group. English Electric acquired that group in 1966 and reorganized the diesel operations as part of English Electric Diesel Engines. English Electric was acquired by GEC in 1968, after which the engine business went through several reorganizations, including the creation of Paxman Diesels Limited in 1975. In 1988, GEC combined Paxman, Ruston and Mirrlees Blackstone diesel interests with Alsthom's relevant operations to form GEC-Alsthom. Following GEC-Alsthom's 1997 public offering and transition to Alstom, the business became associated with Alstom Engines. MAN B&W Diesel acquired Alstom Engines in 2000. The controls business associated with Regulateurs Europa was later sold to Heinzmann in 2005, while the remaining Paxman engine activities became part of the MAN industrial group. In 2020, MAN announced the planned closure of the Colchester factory. Support for remaining Paxman products was to be handled through MAN Energy Solutions' Hazel Grove facility, formerly associated with Mirrlees Blackstone. Thus, Paxman continues primarily as a historical and product brand within MAN Energy Solutions rather than as an independent publicly listed company. At its peak, the Paxman works occupied approximately 23 acres and employed more than 2,000 people. Its legacy is concentrated in high-output diesel engines for rail traction, marine propulsion, military vessels, power generation and industrial applications. Notable engine families include the VZ, RP, Hi-Dyne, YH, ZH, Ventura, Valenta, VP185 and Ruston-Paxman RK3. The brand's historical significance rests on the breadth of its applications and on the role its engines played in the modernization of British rail and naval propulsion.

Paxman's history began in 1865 in Colchester, where James Noah Paxman, Henry Davey and Charles Davey established Davey, Paxman & Davey, Engineers. The founders operated as general engineers and ironworkers, manufacturing steam engines, boilers, agricultural machinery and mill gearing. The company developed an international customer base early in its existence; by the early 1870s it was supplying machinery to the Kimberley diamond mines in South Africa. The business expanded into several forms of mechanical equipment. From 1906 it built traction engines for approximately eleven years, producing slightly fewer than ninety examples. In 1898 the company became a limited company. In 1920 it joined the Agricultural & General Engineers combine, but that organization collapsed in 1932. Paxman subsequently continued as Davey Paxman & Co (Colchester) Ltd. The company increasingly developed diesel engines and became important in transport and defense. Ruston & Hornsby acquired a controlling interest in 1940, leading to the Ruston-Paxman Group. During the Second World War, Paxman supplied diesel engines for naval vessels, including British U-class and V-class submarines. The company's engine portfolio later expanded across railway locomotives, naval ships, submarines and industrial installations. Paxman's early diesel designs included engines using Comet indirect-injection cylinder heads developed by Sir Harry Ricardo. These products were associated with the Paxman Ricardo name. Later engine families included the RP and Hi-Dyne designs, followed by direct-injection YH, ZH, Ventura, Valenta and VP185 engines. Their applications included British Rail locomotive classes, the British Rail High Speed Train, Australia's New South Wales XPT, Royal Navy destroyers and frigates, the Invincible-class aircraft carrier, and Upholder/Victoria-class submarines. In 1966, English Electric acquired the Ruston-Paxman Group. Paxman became the Paxman Engine Division of English Electric, while the diesel businesses were consolidated under English Electric Diesel Engines. English Electric was acquired by GEC in 1968. GEC later renamed the engine operation GEC Diesels Limited in 1972 and created Paxman Diesels Limited as a subsidiary during a 1975 reorganization. A further restructuring took place in 1988, when GEC combined its Paxman, Ruston and Mirrlees Blackstone diesel businesses with the Alsthom division of Compagnie Générale d'Electricité. The resulting group was GEC-Alsthom. After its 1997 initial public offering, the business became Alstom, and the diesel operations were organized as Alstom Engines Ltd. MAN B&W Diesel acquired Alstom Engines in 2000. The Regulateurs Europa engine-controls business was sold to Heinzmann in 2005. Paxman's remaining engine activities were subsequently operated within the MAN group, ultimately under MAN Energy Solutions. In November 2020, MAN announced the closure of the Colchester factory and said that support for remaining Paxman products would be provided from the Hazel Grove facility, the former Mirrlees Blackstone site. The Colchester works reached approximately 23 acres at its height and employed more than 2,000 people. Although the manufacturing site was scheduled for closure, the Paxman name remained associated with supported engine products and with a substantial historical installed base. Its principal legacy is as a British producer of high-performance diesel engines for railway traction, naval and marine propulsion, military equipment and industrial power applications.

1. 2020Colchester factory closure announced

   MAN announces closure of the Colchester factory and plans to support remaining Paxman products from Hazel Grove.

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2. 2000Acquired by MAN B&W Diesel

   MAN B&W Diesel acquires Alstom Engines Ltd, bringing Paxman's engine activities into the MAN group.

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3. 1988GEC-Alsthom formed

   Paxman, Ruston and Mirrlees Blackstone diesel businesses are combined with Alsthom operations.

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4. 1975Paxman Diesels Limited created

   A GEC reorganization creates Paxman Diesels Limited as a subsidiary.

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5. 1968English Electric acquired by GEC

   GEC acquires English Electric, bringing Paxman's diesel operations into the GEC group.

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6. 1966Acquired by English Electric

   The Ruston-Paxman Group is acquired by English Electric and Paxman becomes an English Electric engine division.

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7. 1940Ruston & Hornsby takes control

   Ruston & Hornsby acquires a controlling interest, helping form the Ruston-Paxman Group.

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8. 1932Emerges from the AGE collapse

   After the Agricultural & General Engineers combine fails, Paxman continues as Davey Paxman & Co (Colchester) Ltd.

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9. 1920Joins the Agricultural & General Engineers combine

   Paxman becomes part of the Agricultural & General Engineers group.

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10. 1898Conversion to a limited company

    The business becomes a limited company as its engineering operations expand.

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11. 1865Business founded in Colchester

    James Noah Paxman, Henry Davey and Charles Davey establish Davey, Paxman & Davey, Engineers as a general engineering and ironworking business.

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A specialist British engineering brand positioned around durable, high-output diesel propulsion for rail, naval, marine and industrial duty. Historically, Paxman competed through application-specific engineering, reliability and the ability to support demanding military and transport platforms.

• Paxman RP seriesDiesel engines1934

  The RP family comprised post-1934 indirect-injection diesel engines. Applications included British railway equipment such as the Class 07 and other experimental or specialized locomotives, as well as railway vehicles in Australia and New South Wales. The related Hi-Dyne variant used controlled turbocharging to maintain output across a broad speed range.

• Paxman YH and ZHRailway diesel engines1952

  The YH and ZH were post-1952 direct-injection designs developed for railway traction. They powered British Rail locomotive classes including the Class 15, Class 16 and Class 17, reflecting Paxman's role in the transition toward higher-performance diesel railway power.

• Paxman VenturaMarine and railway diesel engines

  The YJ Ventura family was used in both rail and naval applications. Installations included Type 42 destroyers, British Rail Classes 14, 29 and 74, and other demanding propulsion roles. Its cross-sector use illustrates Paxman's strategy of adapting diesel platforms for transport and defense requirements.

• Paxman ValentaHigh-speed rail and marine diesel engines

  The Y3J, later designated RP200, Valenta was a major Paxman high-output engine family. It was used in Type 22 and Type 23 frigates, the Invincible-class aircraft carrier, Upholder/Victoria-class submarines, British Rail Class 43 High Speed Train power cars and Australia's New South Wales XPT.

• Paxman VP185High-speed rail diesel engines

  The VP185 was a high-output diesel engine used in British Rail Class 43 High Speed Train power cars and New South Wales XPT trainsets. It represents Paxman's contribution to intercity and high-speed diesel traction.

• Ruston-Paxman RK3Railway diesel engines

  The RK3 was developed within the Ruston-Paxman organization and used in British Rail Classes 56 and 58. It belongs to the shared diesel-engine heritage created through the integration of the Ruston and Paxman businesses.

• Paxman engine controlsEngine-control systems1954

  Paxman's engine-controls activities were reorganized into Ardleigh Engineering in 1954. In 1962, Paxman acquired Curtiss-Wright's engine-controls division and combined the businesses under the Regulateurs Europa name. This controls operation was later sold to Heinzmann in 2005.

• 2020Colchester manufacturing site closureStrategy

  MAN reviewed the location and organization of its legacy diesel-engine operations.

  What changed. MAN announced that the Colchester factory would close and that support for remaining Paxman products would move to the Hazel Grove facility.

  Aftermath. The decision ended the long-running Colchester manufacturing presence while retaining product support within MAN Energy Solutions.

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• 2000MAN B&W Diesel acquires Alstom EnginesM&A

  Alstom Engines contained the diesel-engine activities descended from Paxman's earlier ownership and restructuring history.

  What changed. MAN B&W Diesel acquired Alstom Engines Ltd, bringing the Paxman engine business into the MAN group.

  Aftermath. Paxman continued as a product and engineering brand within MAN rather than as an independent company.

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• 2020MAN announces closure of the Colchester Paxman factory

  MAN announced that the Colchester factory associated with Paxman would close, with support for remaining Paxman products transferred to MAN Energy Solutions' Hazel Grove facility.

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1. Paxman (engines)
2. Paxman and Diesel Rail Traction