John Urpeth Rastrick

John Urpeth Rastrick (January 26 1780 – 1856) was one of the first English steam locomotive builders. Partnering with William Foster, he formed Foster, Rastrick and Company, the locomotive construction company that built the Stourbridge Lion in 1829 for export to the Delaware and Hudson Railroad in America.

Rastrick was born in Morpeth, Northumberland, to John Rastrick and Mary (Urpeth). He attended local public schools; at age 15, in 1795 he was apprenticed in his father's engineering practice. In 1802 he was hired by the Ketley Iron Works in Shropshire.

After five years with Ketley, Rastrick partnered with John Hazeldine, also in Shropshire. During this partnership, Rastrick married Sarah Jervis in 1810. Rastrick oversaw the construction of the Chepstow Bridge, which opened in 1816. The partnership between Rastrick and Hazeldine was a troubled one, ending in a dispute in 1817 that saw Rastrick leave the company to form his own firm.

Rastrick moved his family in 1819 to Stourbridge where he formed a professional partnership with William Foster. The two opened Foster, Rastrick and Company. The new company manufactured a number of different machines, including the first steam locomotives for the Delaware and Hudson Railroad in 1829.

Rastrick retired in 1847 from the company he helped start, moving to Chertsey in Surrey. His death in 1856 occurred there.