This company was originally founded in 1850 by Thomas Aveling as an agricultural engineering business, Aveling's first road traction engine was constructed in 1861. During the following year Richard T. Porter joined the firm and consequently it became known as Aveling and Porter Ltd.

The production of all types of agricultural plant was undertaken, but in 1864 the company expanded into the railway field with the production of their first 'traction engine on rails'. This was the format for all Aveling and Porter locomotives and they were quite simply the mechanical parts of a traction engine fitted with railway wheels. The main advantage of the type was its cheapness to run, but it had the disadvantage of being very slow. However they were satisfactory for use in yards or places where speed was not important.

Examples at Quainton

Examples Previously at Quainton