But it was for his other, more radical designs that he gained a more lasting reputation. Churchward retired in 1921 and the baton was passed to Collett, during whose tenure the Great Western arguably enjoyed its golden era thanks to the Castle and King class locomotives. Collett was chief mechanical engineer for 20 years, finally succeeded by Frederick Hawksworth, the last King of Steam, in 1941. When Hawksworth retired, eight years later, the title of chief mechanical engineer was abolished. This is only an introduction to these men.
Subsequent articles look at each one in turn.
They will demonstrate that while it is Brunel who is often credited with putting the previously tiny settlement of Swindon on the map, its six chief mechanical engineers were the Great Western Railway's greatest torchbearers. The father of Swindon works' who took control of the Great Western's locomotives a few days before his 21st birthday. The man responsible for converting to the narrow gauge. His locomotives were among the most enduring ever made. The creator of the world record- breaking City of Truro, who was tragically killed by an engine directly descended from his own designs.