In 1860 W. S. Hudswell, the son of a Leeds pastor, and Mr John Clarke formed Hudswell and Clarke, a general engineering company which produced its first railway locomotive in 1870. Although relatively small, the company was to become one of the foremost industrial loco builders in the country.

In 1925 they produced their first diesel locomotive and from then on were to become one of the leaders in this field. The orders for the company's diesels gradually outstripped those for steam and in 1961 they built their last steam engine. Hudswell Clarke continued in the loco building trade until 1973, having become part of the Trind Group in 1968. The locomotive side of the business is now owned by the Hunslet Group, also originally Leeds based.

Examples at Quainton