Thomas Green founded the company in Leeds in 1835
One of the products that Greens are most known for, the lawnmower, was first constructed in 1855.
One of the products that Greens became well known for was steam tram engines. The use of steam tramways in Britain was effectively prohibited by the draconian rules contained in the so-called Red Flag Act or more correctly the Locomotive Acts of 1861 and 1865. The introduction of new regulations, the Highways and Locomotives (Amendment) Act 1878 set out a more workable arrangement as follows:
Engine to be governed to prevent speeds in excess of 10 miles per hour
No steam or smoke to be emitted
Be free from noise produced by blast or clatter
The machinery to be concealed from view at all points above 4 inch from rail level
Thomas Green commenced building tramway locomotives in 1885. These locomotives were initially of the Wilkinson’s patent, built under licence. This design used a vertical boiler and a vertically mounted engine which drove one set of wheels through gears. The second pair of wheels was driven through coupling rods. The exhaust passed through a chamber in the firebox to provide reheat, which in principle would make the steam invisible. The speed governor was an “Allen” paddle type which acted on the reversing gear.
Thirty-nine Wilkinson type trams were delivered before Green’s developed their own design using a horizontal boiler, inclined cylinders and Joy valve gear. The machine quickly evolved such that Green’s tram engines became one of the market leaders.
Thomas Green & Son Works No 132 Kate 0-4-0WT Wyndham Meatworks, Australia Gauge 3ft 6in
Thomas Green & Son Works No 219 Tilly No9 0-4-2ST Proserpine Mill, Australia Gauge 2ft 0in
Preserved British Steam Locomotives 