In the 1830s John Cockerill created one of the first steam locomotive works on the European mainland, including building a 1A1 loco for the first Belgian Railway. In a short time Cockerills became one of the most important steam loco manufacturers, and by 1844 had delivered their 100th locomotive. However, this lead declined, particularly after the First World War, and with the after effects of the world economic crisis in the 1930s, the business nearly succumbed altogether. They supplied their last steam locomotive in 1949, about 3,272 being built altogether. They started building diesels instead, which they still build today. Cockerills (from 1966 Cockerill Mechanical Industries) may therefore be one of the oldest still producing locomotive manufacturer in Europe.

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