Internal combustion locomotive engineers
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Akroyd, Herbert Stuart
Born in Yorkshire on 28 January1864; died Claremont, Western Australia, 19 February 1927. Inventor of compression-ignition oil engine later developed by Diesel. Educated Newbury Grammar School and City & Guilds of London Technical College, Finsbury. Received early practical training in engineering works of his father, Charles Stuart Akroyd at Fenny Stratford. On death of his father became manager of the works. Began experimental work on oil engines in 1886 at Bletchley Iron Wks which led to his discovery of automatic ignition by hot compressed air, or compression ignition. This was patented (7146) on 8.May.1890 and (15994) on 8.October.1890. In 1891 the sole right to manufacture and develop Akroyd oil engines was acquired by Richard Hornsby & Sons, Grantham. With the introduction of the engine in Germany the idea was taken up by Diesel who came to an agreement with Maschinenfabrik Augsburg, Nürnberg (MAN) in 1893 for Germany and with Krupp, Essen, for outside Germany. The diesel engine as evolved by MAN in 1897 differed from the Akroyd engine in using highly compressed air to inject and spray the charge of fuel oil while the Akroyd engine had a fuel oil pump and spraying nozzle. John Marshall.. Obituary (Proc.. Instn Mech. Engrs, 1927, 112, 577) lists him as Akroyd Stuart..

Attock, Martin Oldacres
Born in Lutterworth on 25 March 1909: son of George Henry Attock. Educated at Rugby School then apprentice at the Willans Works of English Electric between 1922 and 1930. Enjoyed a career commissioning English Electric traction products on British railways, notably the LMS and overseas, notably in Ceylon before WW2, and in several Commonwealth countries following it. Products included the LMS standard diesel electric shunting locomotive, the Bluebird diesel electric railcar tested on the LMS: on 26 January 1934 the car was run from Euston to Watford and back with Stanier at the controls on the return and Fairburn and Gresley as passengers. The diesel shunter was tested widely on the LMS including on the Glasgow Central underground line. Interesting diesel electric articulated train sets were introduced on both the Egyptian State Railways and Ceylon State Railways. Following WW2 he was involved in the LMS diesel electric locomotives Nos. 10000 and 10001, single unit railcars for Ceylon, and Co-Co diesel electric locomotives for the Malayan Railways and for Egypt. He retired in 1972 and died on 10 July 1982.
Patent (note patent information verified via Espacenet: excludes Patent application included by Shepherd)
803,945 Improvements in engine-driven electric generating plant, with Paul Alistair Angus. and English Electric. Applied 15 December 1954; published 5 November 1958.
Papers (note: the English Electric Journal citation came via Shepherd: Shepherd's reference to J. Instn Loco. Engrs Paper No. 640 has been excluded as this does not include Attock as an author).
The diagnosis of faults in roller bearings in traction service, English Electric J., 1968, 23, (1).
Some ideas on the maintenance of diesel electric locomotives, with S. Fletcher, J. Instn Loco. Engrs, 1960, 50 Paper No. 610

Shepherd, Ernie. The Atock/Attock family: a worldwide railway engineering dynasty. 2009. 264pp. (Oakwood Library of Railway History No. 150)

Chorlton, Alan Ernest Leofric
Born Audenshaw, near Manchester. Crewe trained engineer (no mention of Crewe in obituary: Proc. Instn Mech. Engrs., 1947, 156, 245 which mentions Mather & Platt and Manchester Univsersity) who contributed to the development of the internal combustion engine and its application to railway motive power. President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1933 (Presidential Address, Proc. Instn Mech. Engrs., 1933, 125, 127-40) and author of many papers including:
The heavy-oil engine on road and rail. Proc. Instn Automobile Engrs., 1929, 23, 502-40.
Examines the difficulty of combustion at high speeds; the Ackroyd Stuart and diesel engines; the Lincoln engine; and the Beardmore engine;
See also Rutherford Backtrack, 2008, 22, 52  

Durtnall, William Peter
Pioneered oil electric and petrol electric traction in Britain and also developed electric transmissions for ships. See also Duffy. and Rutherford Backtrack, 2008, 22, 52 who mentions that Durtnall's designs were marketed under the name Paragon..

Papers
The evolution and development of the internal combustion railway locomotive. J. Instn Loco. Engrs., 1914, 4, 5-51. (Paper No. 27)

Patents
244,137 Improvements in closed circuit electrical regenerative motor systems. Applied 12 June 1924. Published 14 December 1925.
5394/1912 Improvements in and relating to internal combustion prime-movers, with Geoffrey Tatton Bowles. Applied 4 March 1912. Published 13 February 1913.
6758/1909 Improvements in and connected with electrical transmission of power, and speed regulation, for automobiles, road or rail trams, locomotives, hauling, hoisting, winding gear, and the like. Applied 20 March 1909. Published 12 May 1910
23396/1908 Improvements in the generation of electrical power, and means of speed regulation in electrical propulsion of ships, railway, tramway, or other road or similar vehicles, locomotives, trains, and the like. Applied  2 November 1908. Published 28 October 1909.
27096/1905 Improvements in motor systems with electric transmission for the propulsion of railway, tramway, road or similar vehicles, boats and the like. with Ernest William Hart. Applied 28 December 1905. Published 28 March 1907.
17248/1905 Improvements in and connected with the propulsion of railway, tramway, road or similar vehicles, boats and the like, with Ernest William Hart. Applied 25 August 1905. Published 5 July 1906

Hornbuckle, Thomas [Tommy]
Born in 1880. Served apprenticeship with Richard Horsby & Sons of Grantham, developers and manufacturers of Ackroyd Stuart oil engine used in narrow gauge railway locomotives in Woolwich Arsenal and in Chatham Dockyard. Joined MR at Derby in 1901 as a draughtsman and was involved in the MR's project to use electricity at the Company's new harbour at Heysham: this included a power station, cranes and the railway to Lancaster at 6,600 volts alternating current. Hornbuckle gained an external BSc from Nottingham Univseristy. During the 1930s Hornbuckle was involved in assessing external purchases of diesel shunting locomotives and railcars. Backtrack, 18, 84. Chacksfield's excellent biography of Ron Jarvis (pp. 37-45 and also 95) mentions his subject's involvement in the diesel railcar project and makes it clear that Stanier was closely involved to ensure that it was lightweight.

Paper
with Haworth, H.F.  A diesel train with multiple axle drives. J. Instn Loco. Engrs., 1939, 29, 260-84. Disc.: 284-303. (Paper No. 400)
Discussion on Simpson, T.F.B.  Diesel locomotive building and maintenance. J. Instn Loco. Engrs., 1957, 47, 131-62. Page 170-1. (Paper No. 570)
At Derby Works, where speaker was Works Manager.Discussion: T. Hornbuckle (170-1) gave a brief historical description of how the LMS developed diesel shunting locomotives in the early 1930s, and the key influence of the Hunslet demonstrator locomotive working on the LMS.
Participated in the discussion at an IMechE meeting on torque converters in response to a paper by Haworth of Leyland on the Lysholm-Smith torque converter. Proc. Instn Mech Engrs., 1935, 130, 261-2
Also contributed to discussion of A. Allen's (Paper 347) Rail cars in service in Northern Ireland. J. Instn Loco Engrs, 1936, 26, 38-40.

Rutherford, Backtrack, 2002, 16, 515: skeletal diagram p. 516. notes that Hornbuckle, Clayton, Bulleid (then of LNER) and Hall of Sweindon were involved in proposals for one-man coal-fired shunting locomotive of Sentinel type..

In a subsequent article Rutherford (Backtrack, 18, 172) notes that the result of the struggle between Tommy Hornbuckle and Charles Fairburn was a foregone conclusion; Fairburn was another of Sir Harold's proteges (as William Stanier had been) and was earmarked for higher office. When Hornbuckle died in 1958, the editor of Diesel Railway Traction wrote of him,"Almost inknown, even in name, to those of the present generation engaged in diesel traction in England, Tommy Hornbuckle, who died at the age of 77 on February 1st, was probably the first vital force in time in the diesel conversion of British railways. He had claims to be considered as the father of diesel locomotives on British public railways, for though he was inconnected with the first two isolated trials of diesel units on the old Group railways, he came into the picture with the third, and fathered and forwarded the new units and their possibilities, despite fresh and ruthless pressures on him, until his retirement eight years later, when diesels for shunting were firmly established, and much consideration had been given to railcars and even to line-service locomotives."
"[His] contribution ... far exceeded his work with pre-war shunters ... a man with altogether exceptional engineering judgment, he had a breadth of railway knowledge and appreciation that brought his own ... daily work ... quietly into line with the general railway picture. ... Moreover, he was able to train others ... several of Hornbuckle's young men ... now hold high positions on British Railways."

Coming into contact ... with the pioneers of the British diesel locomotive building industry, Hornbuckle also had a not inconsiderable influence in this sphere among those who had ears to hear ... Indeed it is among the dwindling band of men who were in this field before 1939 that the memory of Tommy Hombuckle is likely to be maintained fresh and green; for, as untouched by railway internal frictions and jockeying for position as was Hornbuckle himself, these men could appreciate him more at his true worth. Largely because of his selflessness and his rejection of personal power as a thing to be striven after, Hornbuckle was greater than his physical works; and his undoubted technical ability, judgment and moral influence passed into men more than into things."

That was written by Brian Reed who himself had been involved in pioneer diesel traction at Hawthorn, Leslie & Co. in the 1920s. Stewart Cox related, "[There was] a personal contest between Hombuckle, the true originator, [of the diesel shunter development programme] and Fairburn, who developed these ideas far away from the intentions of their initiator. As a matter of fact, Tommy Hornbuckle was no match, either in position or capacity, for his formidable chief, and before long he retired from the fray, a somewhat embittered man..

Mensforth, Sir Holberry
Born near Bradford (Yorks.) on 1 May 1871. Died Hazlemere on 5 September 1951. Humble origins and educated via mechanics institutes. Briefly ran his own gear cutting business, but joined B.H. Thwaite manufacturer of gas engines. In 1903 he joined Westinghouse at Trafford Park in Manchester and became General Manager thereat in 1917. He was recruited by Geddes to assist with the smooth transition from munitions manufacture to peacetime work. Received KCB in 1923. Briefly Chairman of English Electric, before being replaced by his General Manager, George Nelson. Retired in 1943. ODNB entry by Geoffrey Tweedale and Rutherford article in Bactrack, 2008, 22, 100.

Paxman, Edward

http://www.nelmes.fsnet.co.uk/paxman/paxfamly.htm

Priestman, William Dent
Born in Sutton near Hull on 23 August 1847. Quaker educated at Bootham School. Apprenticed at Humber Iron Works, thence at Gateshead Works of NER, Worked for Sir William Armstrong & Sons. Offered a Partnership in R.&W. Hawthorn, but his father acquired Holderness Factory in Hull on his behalf. Here hevay oil internal combustion engines were developed. These were used in barges, and according to Rutherford Backtrack, 2008, 22, 52 in a single locomotive used on the Hull & Barnsley Railway. Died in Hull on 7 September 1936. ODNB entry by James Dent Priestman.
Cummins, C. Lyle and Priestman, J.D. William Dent Priestman, oil engine pioneer and inventor—his engine patents 1885-1901. Proc. Instn Mech. Engrs, Part A: Power Process Engg, 1986, 200 A2, 69-80.

Ricardo, Sir Harry
Born in London on 26 January 1885; died 18 May 1974. Ricardo was one of the foremost engine designers and researchers in the early years of the development of the internal combustion engine. He improved on the engines that were used in the first tanks, oversaw the research into the physics of internal combustion that led to the use of octane ratings, was instrumental in development of the sleeve valve engine design, and invented the diesel pre-combustion chamber that made high-speed diesel engines possible. Educated at Rugby School and at Trinity College, Cambridge as a civil engineering student. In 1904, he entere the University Automobile Club's event, which was a competition to design a machine that could travel the furthest on a quart of petrol. His engine was a single cylinder one and the heaviest entered, but his motorcycle design nevertheless won the competition, having covered a distance of forty miles. He was then persuaded to join the Professor of Mechanism and Applied Mechanics, Bertram Hopkinson, working on research into engine performance. He graduated with a degree in 1906 and spent a further year researching at Cambridge.
Before graduation, Ricardo had designed a two-stroke motorcycle engine to study the effect of mixture strength upon the combustion process. When he graduated, a small firm, Messrs Lloyd and Plaister, showed an interest in making the engine. Ricardo produced designs for two different sizes, and the smaller one sold about 50 engines until 1914, when the war halted production. In 1909 he designed a two-stroke 3.3 litre engine, for his cousin Ralph Ricardo, who had started up a small car manufacturing company, Two Stroke Engine Company, at Shoreham-by-Sea. The engine was used in a car called the Dolphin. The cars were well made but it became apparent that they were costing more to make than the selling price. The company had better luck making two-stroke engines for fishing boats. However, in 1911 the firm folded and Ralph left for India. Ricardo continued to design engines for small electric lighting sets, that were produced by two companies up to 1914.
In 1915 Ricardo set up a new company, Engine Patents Ltd. to develop the engine that would eventually be used in the first successful tank design, the British Mark V. The Daimler engine used in the Mark I created excessive smoke, which gave away its position. Ricardo was asked to look at the problem of reducing exhaust gases and decided that a new engine was needed. Existing companies were able to undertake construction of such an engine but not the design, so Ricardo designed it himself. As well as having reduced smoke emissions, the new engine was much more powerful than the existing ones. The new six-cylinder engine produced 150 h.p., compared with 105 h.p., and later modifications produced 225 h.p. and 260 h.p.
In 1917 his old mentor, Bertram Hopkinson, who was now Technical Director at the Air Ministry, invited him to join the new engine research facility at the Department of Military Aeronautics, later to become the RAE. In 1918 Hopkinson was killed while flying a Bristol Fighter, and Ricardo took over his position. From that point on the department produced a string of experimental engines and research reports that constantly drove the British, and world, engine industry.
One of his first major research projects was on the problems of pre-ignition, known as knocking or pinging. To study the problem he built a variable-compression test engine: this led to the development of an octane rating system for fuels, and considerable investment into octane improving additives and refining systems. The great reduction in fuel use as a result of higher-octane fuel was directly responsible for allowing Alcock and Brown to fly the Atlantic in their Vickers Vimy bombers adapted with his modifications.
In 1919 Ricardo was studying the phenomena affecting the combustion within the petrol engine and the diesel engine. He realised that turbulence within the combustion chamber increased flame speed, and that he could achieve this by offsetting the cylinder head. He also realised that making the chamber as compact as possible would reduce the distance that the flame had to travel and would reduce the likelihood of detonation. He later developed the induction swirl chamber, which was an attempt to achieve orderly air motion in a diesel engine, the swirl being initiated by inclined ports and accentuated by forcing the air into a small cylindrical volume. Finally he developed the compression swirl chamber for diesel engines. This design embodied intense swirl with a reasonable rate of pressure rise and good fuel consumption. The compression swirl chamber design was called a Comet design and was subsequently licensed to several companies for use in trucks, buses, tractors and cranes, as well as private cars and taxis. A Comet combustion chamber was used in the first AEC diesel buses operated in 1931 by London Transport. In 1922 and 1923 Ricardo published a two-volume work The Internal Combustion Engine
In 1927 he formed Ricardo Consulting Engineers in Shoreham-by-Sea. Although Ricardo did not invent the sleeve valve, in 1927, he produced a seminal research paper that outlined the advantages of the sleeve valve, and suggested that poppet valve engines would not be able to offer power outputs much beyond 1500 hp (1,100 kW). A number of sleeve valve aircraft engines were developed following this paper, notably by Napier, Bristol and Rolls-Royce. Bristol produced the Perseus, Hercules, Taurus and the Centaurus, Napier produced the Napier Sabre and Rolls-Royce produced the Eagle and Crecy, all using sleeve valves. In 1929 Ricardo was elected Fellow of the Royal Society. Ricardo’s work on the sleeve valve affected the development of British aircraft engines in the 1930s and during WW2. He even enhanced the famous Rolls-Royce Merlin engine in the Mosquito by giving it an oxygen enrichment system to improve its performance. Ricardo assisted in the design of the combustion chambers and fuel control system of Sir Frank Whittle’s jet engine. In 1944 Ricardo was elected president of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. In 1948 Ricardo was knighted in recognition for his work in the field of internal combustion engineering. Wikipedia.
Bulleid sought advice from Ricardo for the Leader class which used sleeve valves and for the CIE turf burner on the design of compact steam engines.  See H.A.V. Bulleid;'s biography of his father..

Stuart, Herbert Ackroyd
Born in Halifax on 28 January 1868. Educated at St Bartholemew's Grammar School in Newbury. In 1890 patented the hot bulb technique for starting/running heavy oil engines whilst working at his father's works in Bletchley, Developed his engines at Richard Hornsby & Sons of Lincoln, according to Rutherford Backtrack, 2008, 22, 52 (ODNB states Grantham) and applied to narrow gauge locomotives for the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich and for the Chattenden & Upnor Railway. Died a disappointed man in Western Australia according to Ronald M. Birse (ODNB) on 19 February 1927. Body brought back to Halifax for burial.

Wilkin, Anthony Vivian
Born in 1901; died suddenly on 11 January 1963. General Manager of English Electric Company’s Diesel Engine Division. Educated at Huish School, Taunton, received his early training at Taunton and Chester Technical Colleges followed by four years pupilage from 1919 to 1923 at the Works of Sandycroft Limited, Chester. In 1923 appointed Technical Representative, Ruston and Hornsby Ltd. and in 1932 he left to take charge of the Diesel Engine Department of Belliss and Morcom Ltd. Joined The English Electric Company in 1943 as Manager of the Diesel Engine Sales Department, becoming General Manager of the Diesel Engine Division six years later. He was a member of the Boards of the English Electric Export and Trading Co. Ltd. and of W. H. Dorman and Son. Ltd. For twelve years he served on the Council of the British Internal Combustion Engine Manufacturers’ Association, for two as Chairman of the Council and for eight as Chairman of the Finance and General Purposes Committee. Obituary: J. Instn Loco. Engrs., 1962, 52, 657.

2010-01-20