George Frank Burtt
Burtt was born in Greenwich on 22 March 1871 and died in Brighton on 22 August 1949. Educated Colfes Grammar School, Lewisham and West Kent Grammar School (Marshall). Apprenticed under Stroudley at New Cross Works. Moved to Drawing Office, Brighton 1892 where he remained until he retired in 1932. He was a founder member of the Stephenson Locomotive Society and of the Institution of Locomotive Engineers. Very important locomotive historian, although R.J. Billinton insisted that his work should remain pseudonymous. He was one of Ian Allan's pioneering authors of most excellent slim locomotive histories. Fred Rich (Steam Wld, 2005 (217) 23) called him a "fiery little man" and gives details of how he took official photographs involving newly assembled locomotives and the staff involved. Many are reproduced in his 1946 study of Brighton locomotives. His involvement in the founding of the Stephenson Locomotive Society is celebrated in Backtrack, 2009, 23, 646...
Books
LB&SCR locomotives: an up-to-date survey from
1870. Staines: Ian Allan, 1946. 57p.
Clear and concise work: Burtt worked for the LBSCR. From the
bibliographical standpoint the book is interesting in that it is clear that
neither the author nor the publisher knew much about pamphlet production
as there are six blank sheets "for notes" (at a time of extreme paper
shortage!).
The locomotives of the London, Brighton & South
Coast Railway, 1839-1903. London, 1903.
See Ottley 6678 for a full account of this book which began
life as a series of periodical articles, and all of which were published
pseudonymously as Burtt was an employee of the LBSCR.
S.E. & C.R. locomotives, 1874-1923.
London, Ian Allan, 1947. 46 p. 36 illus., 16 tables.
A clear and concise work.
2008-01-07