Page 24 - link magazine

Swindon Wide
24

Another great engineer and also civic leader in Swindon
Local historian Steve Wakefi eld continues his story of the Great Western Railway, which celebrates its 175th anniversary this year
I often fi nd myself at Christchurch graveyard in Old Town, refl ecting on the life of George Jackson Churchward CBE, Freeman of the Borough, and
fi rst Mayor of Swindon. His achievements and his legacy mark him out amongst his equals as a great engineer and railwayman.
Churchward was 45 years old when career on the railways in his home Climbing the ranks to become circulation of water in the boiler
he succeeded William Dean as chief county at the age of 15 years. the Chief Mechanical Engineer of and of air through the grate in
mechanical engineer, after being He was talent spotted at the age the Great Western Railway, was the fi rebox. The GWR board once
assistant for some years before of 19 and transferred to the design an accolade he deserved. Church- challenged Churchward as to why
Dean’s retirement, ensuring that offi ce at the Swindon works. ward could be a charmer, yet was other companies could build three
the GWR was performing effectively. To many both inside and outside known to be outspoken and ras- engines for the same cost as two
Without doubt he was the most the works he was known unequiv- cally with it. This attribute ensured of his. He replied indignantly, ‘Well
progressive railway engineer of his ocally as the Squire, dressing in that the workers admired him, one of mine travelling backwards
day. Born in 1857, being the son the style of a country gent. He en- though he was revered or feared could pull two of theirs.’
of a country squire in Devon did joyed fi shing, shooting and other by other engineers and their re- Churchward was indeed pas-
not stop Churchward from becom- country pursuits, and was rarely spective railway company boards. sionate about his locos. He never
ing an engineer and he began his seen without his beloved pipe. As a young man he and Joseph married, was always even-tem-
Armstrong’s son George devel- pered with an independent mind
First Great Western Railways unveiled a power car named GWR175 Anniver- oped a vacuum brake every bit and spirit, and was never afraid
sary on 6 October before it pulled a special train from Paddington to Swindon. as good if not better than the in- to speak out. He was sharp in wit
The Mayor of Swindon Rex Barnett and First Great Western south west regional domitable Westinghouse system. as well as advice. He once said to
manager Julian Crow with a replica plaque presented to Steam Museum
This gives a measure of his de- some men who were teasing him
termination. He was the man who about his bachelor status, ‘A lot of
broke with GWR tradition and put you are big men - important men,
outside cylinders on its locos, a doing big jobs, where what you
change that rocked the GWR tra- say goes, but what are you when
ditionalists to the core. He brought you get home? Worms, bloody
about standardisation, so that dif- worms.’
ferent locomotives used common Being logical and self-effacing,
parts, and he also experimented he did not mind the jokes that
with boilers and fi reboxes. people made about him. At his

Manor Garden Centre, Cheney Manor, Swindon SN2 2QJ

Cane, Rattan A testament to Churchward’s design and leadership. Built in 1903, City of
Truro was the fi rst manmade object to break the 100mph barrier in 1904. Now
Hardwood part of the National Collection at the National Rail Museum, the locomotive
is still in operation and is pictured above at the Swindon & Cricklade Railway
combinations GWR175 Festival at Blunsdon Station in July
Not one to be put off by GWR retirement someone said, ‘May
SALE doyens, Churchward cut up the each hair on his head be a candle
rulebook and went back to the to light him to glory.’ Churchward
drawing board. A man at home laughed, as he was as bald as a
NOW ON whether on the workshop fl oor, cue ball. A man of simple tastes he
drawing offi ce or in the boardroom, was presented with a fi shing rod
he could handle it all. He had vi- as a retirement gift.
sion and a personality and wanted By a quirk of fate on 19 Decem-
similar enthusiasm and passion ber 1933 he was tragically killed in
from those working around him, Swindon on a cold foggy morning
not academic argument. by an express train, as he crossed
Not long after Dean’s retirement the railway line into the works from
Churchward made his mark on the his home ‘Newburn’ in the railway
railway world in a very individual village. Churchward was aged 77
Free local delivery way. He is the man that built the at the time and it is believed he did
Open 7 days a week fi rst mechanical object in the world not hear the train racing towards
to break through the 100mph bar- him.
Tel: 01793 526691 rier. Swindon came to a standstill as
Churchward had designed an thousands lined the streets to pay
www.conservatorycentres.co.uk innovative narrow fi rebox and their respects as his funeral cor-
boiler, which maintained effi cient tege passed.

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