EddieB

All very quiet. If DS239 isn't around, perhaps time to set another question, Arthur?

No takers yet? (A gold star for anyone who can tell me where I've put my copy of one of the books referred to!)

Is what true? Well for starters, this person's name isn't Mike, Michael or any derivatives thereof....

Right, time for another Swindon man. He started his career as an apprentice at the GWR Locomotive Works at Wolverhampton, transferring to Swindon shortly after. He subsequently left the railway for British Timken and later became an Inspector for South African Railways and Harbours. Just before the outbreak of WW2 he returned to Britain, to Derby, but to the aero division of a major enginerring firm. He is best remembered for a work of reference on steam locomotives, published in the mid-seventies (with a supplement produced nine years later) and a more pictoral work towards the end of the same decade.

I think this is someone I was thinking of "doing" - Sir Sam Fay.

No, but you can park a Smart in the hole in the middle of the Polo....

Indeed it is. Back to you, Mike.

Phew, at last. Still going round in circles at Banbury on the other one. Well, have I exhausted all of Swindon's engineers in my previous series of wrong attempts? Perhaps not. This person began their career at Swindon, indeed their name can be found oin the "Wall" at "Steam" there (I checked). Although I never met him personally, his name was next to mine when I signed in the visitor's book at a major steam shed in the 'eighties. From Swindon he was seconded to Ashford as a draughtsman on the design of diesel-electric CC10203, and later to Nairobi where he was instrumental in the adoption of Giesl ejectors on EAR locomotives. Having returned to the UK after finishing his secondment, he emigrated in 1967 to a country where steam was still widely used, and continued to rove and report from all over the world in search of steam. Better known in more recent times as an author and photographer, his most autobiographical work includes pieces on Churchward and Ell (among others), and where I did first read about Zeiss optical alignment! On his death, and in accordance with his wishes, his ashes were scattered onto the fire of a steam locomotive in his adopted homeland.

Right, last shot tonight Kenneth John Cook, who introduced Zeiss equipment to align frames (trying to remember where I first read about that). [Edi] The book being "Swindon Steam 1921-1951", which just about catches the end of the Churchward era (and which is in the SLS Library).

No, William Stanier is tway oo obvious, shirley? (Play on "Steiner" optics?) I'm struggling to find any such book (even in the SLS Library Lists). As for the German optical hint, I've considered Schneider (who did write for IA, but on other subjects), Rodenstock, Leitz, Zeiss...

Brian Haresnape, then.

Me too - I was left in the corridor of uncertainty waiting for the punch line (me grandmother wi' a stick of celery could've come oop wi' it) Anyway, my ol' mate Google reckons it was GROTTY COFFEE BOY

In which case I'm drawn to Harold Holcroft, who wrote both technical papers (which I don't have) and a popular survey of GWR locomotive practice (which I do). Also involved with the development of conjugated valve gear.

Surely GJC is too obvious?

Sorry, but any self-respecting Oirishman would have found a wall or bushes.

WF Pettigrew?

Yes, looking back it's amazing just how much of the pre-nationalisation operations, infrastructure and even rolling stock was still in use, despite the demise of steam and depredations of Beeching.

Process of elimination from a handful - I'll try Lawson Billington, but am not that confident.

Yes, Sir Raphael ("Roy") Welensky, who never lost his affection for steam locomotives, and indeed wrote a short autobiographical piece that appears in Ted Hamer's most recent work on the locomotives of Zimbabwe. Chrisf had the right country, but as far as I'm aware "Smithy" never fired steam locos. Back to you, Mike.

Leaving school at fourteen, I joined the railway and started my career as a fireman. My political life developed from being leader of a trade union representing European railway workers. From there I moved into the colonial legislature, forming my own political party in 1941. From the start I was involved in bringing together two colonies, eventually three joining together in a Federation within the British Commonwealth. I became the second and final Prime Minister of that Federation. Despite my career in politics, I retained a great affection for steam locomotives throughout my life.

Sir Felix Pole

Yes, based at Atlas Works first in Manchester, then in Glasgow. Over to you, Arthur.

Three days and no takers? Might be worth looking up an old Atlas?

Robert Riddles?

Correct. Am I making these too easy? I'm sure you won't, Mike.