Sue Cook presents the series that examines listeners' historical queries, exploring avenues of research and uncovering mysteries.
George Jackson Churchward - the Great Western Railway engineer
Listener's query
"My ancestor George Jackson Churchward was Chief Engineer for the Great Western Railway. How significant was he in the GWR's success?"
Brief summary
Following the Making History item about the 100 mph achieved in 1904 by the steam locomotive City of Truro, Clive Churchward, a descendant of its designer George Jackson Churchward (1857-1933), told us about the achievements of his ancestor.
George Jackson Churchward was a Devon man who went to work on the railway at the age of 16. Initially, he worked on the South Devon railway when it was still broad-gauge. At 19 he moved to the Great Western Railway (GWR) drawing office where, when he was 45, he became Chief Engineer. He was really running GWR from 1900, standardising boilers and wheels, and cutting the number of designs to a minimum. He also he revolutionised boiler design.
The first class of locomotives with which Churchward won success and world-wide recognition was the 4-4-0 'City' class, which soon became well known as the most powerful passenger locomotive. One of them, City of Truro, became the first engine in the world to haul a train at 100 miles per hour in 1904. He went on to build the 'County' class and the 'Star' class.
Churchward retired in 1922. He died on a foggy December day in 1933 when he was knocked down and killed by a GWR steam locomotive near the Swindon Works. He had apparently gone out to check the line and may have been unaware of an approaching train. The accident happened close to his home, Newburn House, which the GWR had allowed him to keep during his retirement.
Further reading
Colonel H.C.B. Rogers, G.J. Churchward - A Locomotive Biography (Allen & Unwin, 1975)
Brian Haresnap, Churchward Locomotives (Ian Allan Ltd, 1976)
Oswald Nock, GWR in the 20th Century (Ian Allan, 1971)
Denis Griffiths, Locomotive Engineers of the GWR (Patrick Stephens Limited, 1987)
Vanessa has presented science and current affairs programmes for BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Discovery and has presented for BBC Radio 4 & Five Live and a regular contributor to the Daily Telegraph and the Mail on Sunday, Scotsman and Sunday Herald.
Contact Making History
Send your comments and questions for future programmes to: Making History BBC Radio 4 PO Box 3096 Brighton BN1 1PL
Vanessa has presented science and current affairs programmes for BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Discovery and has presented for BBC Radio 4 & Five Live and a regular contributor to the Daily Telegraph and the Mail on Sunday, Scotsman and Sunday Herald. 