"Bridges Adams, who was an artist and a gentleman, George England, who was an industrialist and no gentleman, and James Samuel, who was of the contemporary Eastern Counties brand of locomotive engineer, were all running the 'light locomotive' at this time (1850). 

 

It was to be expected that one of the less gentlemany would try to cash in on the strife between the Edinburgh & Glasgow and the Caledonian Railway companies, and it happened to be George England." 

 

"George England was very proud of his little engine ("Little England"), which was taken to provide the design for his letter headings for several years. 

 

The firm fell on eveil days in the 'sixties, chiefly through an engineering strike which cost it some important contracts, and led to its winding up. Sir Wiliam Hardman recorded some pungent incidental scandals; that England was much involved with the Crystal Palace, made enemies in connection therewith, and was attacked on moral grounds because he prosecuted for perjury the interesting Mr Fairlie, who had eloped with an illegitimate daughter of his. 

 

Fairlie was aquitted and England's swan-song seems to have been building the Fairlie patent locomotive Little Wonder for the Festiniog Railway. A quaint business, truly!"