Author guest post from Tim Hillier-Graves.

It will soon be 100 years since George Jackson Churchward, considered to be one of the finest designers of steam locomotives, was killed in tragic circumstances by a Great Western locomotive. In the intervening years recognition of his achievements as an engineer and leader of an enormous, highly charged business has been questioned, as historians re-evaluate all that he did in his lifetime. Inevitably, this has meant that the extent of his successes have been questioned and his failures, perhaps, over emphasized. So where may the truth lie? It is a question that this book seeks to address, drawing upon many sources, some previously untapped, all richly illustrated with 300 or so photographs, drawings and charts.

In doing this, I have carefully considered all the duties he undertook throughout his life, not simply review his work as a designer of locomotives and rolling stock. This includes all production management issues central to the work of the Great Western Railway, leadership, in peace and war, of a massive workforce at a time of huge social change, negotiating with many stakeholders when Trades Unions power was on the rise and demands for equality were becoming more strident and much more. To be successful in all these tasks, he had to be a politician, a financier, a mediator, a motivator and much more besides, on top of being an engineer of great skill and dexterity. This book draws these threads together, painting a vivid picture of his life and times and hopefully reaching a balanced conclusion that reveals any successes or failures in an honest and balanced way.

To be published in September 2025.

Preorder your copy here.