George Hughes (engineer)
George Hughes (9 October 1865 – 27 October 1945) was an English locomotive engineer, and chief mechanical engineer of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR) and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS).
George Hughes | |
|---|---|
| Born | 9 October 1865 Benwick, Cambridgeshire, England |
| Died | 27 October 1945 (aged 80) Stamford, Lincolnshire, England |
| Occupation | Engineer |
| Engineering career | |
| Discipline | Locomotive engineer |
Biography
George Hughes was born on 9 October 1865 and served a premium apprenticeship at the London and North Western Railway (LNWR) Crewe Works between 1882 and 1886.[1]
At the L&YR he started in the test room, and Bulleid notes the L&YR's John Aspinall was most pleased with his work there.[2]. He progressed through various positions at the L&YR culminating in achieving in becoming chief mechanical engineer in March 1904.[1]
He introduced the L&YR locomotive classification system around 1919.[3]
When the L&YR amalgamated into the LNWR in January 1922 he became of the CME of the combined group, and was appointed the CME of the LMS on its formation at the 1923 grouping.[1]
He retired in July 1925 after only two and a half years at the LMS.[4] He was succeeded by Henry Fowler who had worked with him at Horwich Works before moving to the Midland Railway.[5]
He died on 27 October 1945.[1]
Steam locomotives
L&YR
- Class 6, a superheated development of the Class 5
- Class 8 4-6-0 Dreadnought. As initially built these express passenger engines had significant issues, following rebuild their performance was "creditable".[6]
- 4-6-4T Dreadnought tank
- Class 28
- Railmotors
- 2-10-0, a heavy mineral loco design of 1914, not built owing to the outbreak of the Great War.
LMS
- LMS Hughes Crab, a 2-6-0 5P4F mixed-traffic locomotive had the basic design completed before Hughes' retirement. It was the last design from Horwich Works and Marshall gives it the accolade "The engine became at once, and remained, one of the best on the LMS". 245 were produced and Marshall comments the successful LMS Fowler 2-6-4T was also influenced by the design.[7]
Electric locomotives
During Hughes' time at the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway built an electric goods locomotive in 1912 and a battery-electric shunter around 1917. The former had four 150 horsepower motors (total 600 hp) and could pick up current from the third rail on the main line or from overhead lines in freight yards.[8]
References
- "George Hughes". Grace's Guide to British Industrial History. Archived from the original on 20 June 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
- Bulleid 1967, p. 100.
- Marshall (1972), p. 273.
- Marshall 1972, pp. 198.
- Whitehouse & Thomas, p. 38.
- Whitehouse & Thomas, p. 47.
- Marshall 1972, pp. 198–200.
- Marshall 1972, pp. 173, 184–185, 191–192.
Bibliography
- Whitehouse, Patrick; Thomas, David St John (1987). LMS 150. Newton Abbot: David & Charles.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Bulleid, H.A.V. (1967). The Aspinall Era. Ian Allan Ltd.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Marshall, John (1972). The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway, volume 3. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-5320-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
External links
- George Hughes Steam Index website article
| Business positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Henry Hoy |
Chief mechanical engineer Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway 1904 – 1922 |
Succeeded by Company absorbed by the London and North Western Railway |
| Preceded by H. P. M. Beames |
Chief mechanical engineer London and North Western Railway 1922 – 1923 |
Succeeded by Company absorbed by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway |
| Preceded by Company formed by the Railways Act 1921 |
Chief mechanical engineer London, Midland and Scottish Railway 1923 – 1925 |
Succeeded by Henry Fowler |
Authority control  |
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