In an age of high-speed digital innovation, a small workshop tucked away in the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) houses one of Britain’s most vital yet little-known heritage operations. Armstrong Oilers, a team of just two craftspeople, produces components without which much of Britain’s heritage railway industry would grind to a halt.
Since 1903, Armstrong Oilers has specialized in manufacturing axlebox lubricators – known simply as “oilers” – essential components that keep heritage steam and diesel locomotives running smoothly. While modern railways have long since switched to roller bearings, heritage railways across the country depend on these handcrafted devices to maintain their historic engines.
“Most people who enjoy a day out on a heritage railway never think about what keeps those magnificent locomotives moving,” said Brian Evans, Business Manager at Armstrong Oilers. “Without our oilers, these machines would face costly and potentially unfeasible conversions. We’re essentially a lifeline for the entire sector.”
The significance of their work extends well beyond Yorkshire. Despite their small size, the team produces approximately 1,000 units annually, supplying over 100 heritage railways throughout the UK. Their international reach is equally impressive, with exports to heritage railways in the United States, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, and South Africa.
What makes Armstrong Oilers truly remarkable is their preservation of traditional manufacturing techniques. Each oiler is handcrafted using machinery that itself belongs in a museum. The oil-circulating pads, critical components of the lubricators, are woven on a Hutchinson Hollingworth Dobcross loom dating back to the 1880s – technology that has outlived countless modern innovations.
Railway historian Dr. Emily Richardson describes their work as “doubly preservationist,” explaining that “they’re not just creating components that preserve locomotives; they’re preserving heritage manufacturing techniques that would otherwise be lost to time.”
With a catalogue of over 900 different oiler designs, the team caters to an astonishing variety of heritage locomotives and rolling stock. When standard designs won’t work, they create custom solutions, ensuring that even the most unique historic engines can continue operating.
The challenges facing Armstrong Oilers mirror those of the heritage sector as a whole: knowledge transfer to future generations, sustainable operation, and balancing authentic preservation with financial viability. As heritage railways prepare for the Railway 200 celebrations in 2025, marking two centuries since the first passenger railway, the spotlight on these unsung heroes comes at a crucial time.
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway, which houses Armstrong Oilers, is Britain’s most popular heritage railway, carrying 300,000 passengers annually. As an educational charitable trust and fully accredited museum, the NYMR provides an authentic evocation of the steam age while ensuring these historical treasures remain accessible to future generations.
For Armstrong Oilers, the focus now turns to raising awareness of their critical role and expanding their reach, exploring new opportunities with related heritage industries such as steam road rollers and traction engines. As Evans puts it, “Our mission isn’t just manufacturing – it’s keeping history alive and moving.”
More information about Armstrong Oilers and their work can be found at https://armstrongoilers.co.uk/.
