11 Facts About Frederick Hawksworth

Frederick Hawksworth joined the company as an apprentice in 1898, aged 15, becoming an apprentice draughtsman in 1905 under George Jackson Churchward.

Frederick Hawksworth was one of Churchward's "Bright Young Men", and was involved in his revolutionary designs including the general arrangement drawings for "The Great Bear".

Frederick Hawksworth became CME following Collett's retirement at the age of 70 in 1941.

Frederick Hawksworth continued in the design tradition which he had been involved in throughout his career, but made some important improvements.

Between 1946 and 1950, Frederick Hawksworth was involved in an experimental effort to introduce oil-firing in place of the coal that, post-war, was being exported to earn currency.

Frederick Hawksworth was involved in the ordering of the GWR diesel shunters and two experimental Gas turbine-electric locomotives Nos.

Frederick Hawksworth had worked on GWR No 111 'The Great Bear' and planned to build a Pacific type for the Great Western, but the design never came to existence.

Frederick Hawksworth remained Chief Mechanical Engineer through the formation of the Western Region of British Railways in 1948, continuing to work on locomotive design until retiring at the end of 1949.

Frederick Hawksworth was chairman of the Swindon magistrates from 1951 until 1959 and was made a freeman of the borough in 1960.

Frederick Hawksworth's ashes are buried in St Mark's Church, adjacent to the former site of Swindon Works.

Frederick Hawksworth's preserved locomotives are as follows: 'Modified Halls' No 6960 Raveningham Hall, No 6984 Owsden Hall, No 6989 Wightwick Hall, No 6990 Witherslack Hall, No 6998 Burton Agnes Hall, and No 7903 Foremarke Hall.