H.P.M. Beames
Encyclopedia
Hewitt Pearson Montague Beames (9 May 1875 – 5 March 1948) was Chief Mechanical Engineer
of the London and North Western Railway
1920-1922.
), at Dover College
, and Crawley's Military Academy. He then continued his education as an apprentice under Francis William Webb at the Crewe
works of the London and North Western Railway
(LNWR), becoming an apprentice and then a pupil there.
A keen rugby union
player, Beames played for Lancashire
on several occasions, and was invited to tour Canada with the Irish national rugby union team
, but was unable to go.
Between January 1900 and May 1901, Beames served in the cavalry in South Africa
during the Boer War
. He then resumed work at Crewe.
Between January 1902 and 1909, Beames was "Assistant to the Outdoor Superintendent, Crewe" who dealt with pumping, dredging and other dock machinery. From 1909 until the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Beames was personal assistant to the Chief Mechanical Engineer
(CME), Charles Bowen Cooke.
On the outbreak of war, Beames joined the Royal Engineers
' Railway Company with the British Expeditionary Force until he was recalled to Crewe to become "Chief Assistant and Works Manager, Crewe Works". Beames became Deputy CME in June 1919 and CME in November 1920.
Beames only produced one new locomotive, the LNWR Beames 0-8-4T for use in South Wales. He also reboilered the LNWR Claughton Class
locomotives.
The LNWR merged with the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
(L&YR) in 1922 and the latter's CME, George Hughes
was made CME of the now expanded LNWR, with Beames "Divisional Mechanical Engineer, Western Division". The LNWR was then grouped in 1923 into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
(LMS) and Beames became "Mechanical Engineer, Crewe". Beames was overlooked in favour of the elderly Hughes for the top position.
In December 1930 Beames was made Deputy Chief Mechanical Engineer, under Ernest Lemon
headquartered at Derby
. Lemon was quickly promoted and a new man William Stanier
brought in.
Beames retired from the railway on 30 September 1934. He was then active in local politics and was awarded the CBE by George VI
in 1946.
Chief Mechanical Engineer
Chief Mechanical Engineer and Locomotive Superintendent are titles applied by British, Australian, and New Zealand railway companies to the person ultimately responsible to the board of the company for the building and maintaining of the locomotives and rolling stock...
of the London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
1920-1922.
Biography
Beames was born Monkstown Dublin in 1875, and educated at Corrig School, Kingstown, County Dublin, (now Dún LaoghaireDún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire or Dún Laoire , sometimes anglicised as "Dunleary" , is a suburban seaside town in County Dublin, Ireland, about twelve kilometres south of Dublin city centre. It is the county town of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County and a major port of entry from Great Britain...
), at Dover College
Dover College
Dover College is a co-educational independent school in Dover in southeast England. It was founded in 1871, and takes both day pupils and boarders....
, and Crawley's Military Academy. He then continued his education as an apprentice under Francis William Webb at the Crewe
Crewe
Crewe is a railway town within the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census the urban area had a population of 67,683...
works of the London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
(LNWR), becoming an apprentice and then a pupil there.
A keen rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player, Beames played for Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
on several occasions, and was invited to tour Canada with the Irish national rugby union team
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
, but was unable to go.
Between January 1900 and May 1901, Beames served in the cavalry in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
during the Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
. He then resumed work at Crewe.
Between January 1902 and 1909, Beames was "Assistant to the Outdoor Superintendent, Crewe" who dealt with pumping, dredging and other dock machinery. From 1909 until the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Beames was personal assistant to the Chief Mechanical Engineer
Chief Mechanical Engineer
Chief Mechanical Engineer and Locomotive Superintendent are titles applied by British, Australian, and New Zealand railway companies to the person ultimately responsible to the board of the company for the building and maintaining of the locomotives and rolling stock...
(CME), Charles Bowen Cooke.
On the outbreak of war, Beames joined the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
' Railway Company with the British Expeditionary Force until he was recalled to Crewe to become "Chief Assistant and Works Manager, Crewe Works". Beames became Deputy CME in June 1919 and CME in November 1920.
Beames only produced one new locomotive, the LNWR Beames 0-8-4T for use in South Wales. He also reboilered the LNWR Claughton Class
LNWR Claughton Class
The London and North Western Railway Claughton Class was a class of 4-cylinder express passenger 4-6-0 steam locomotives.They were introduced in 1913, the first of the class No. 2222 was named in honour of Sir Gilbert Claughton, who was the Chairman of the LNWR at that time...
locomotives.
The LNWR merged with the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway was a major British railway company before the 1923 Grouping. It was incorporated in 1847 from an amalgamation of several existing railways...
(L&YR) in 1922 and the latter's CME, George Hughes
George Hughes (engineer)
George Hughes was a locomotive engineer, and Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway.-L&YR:...
was made CME of the now expanded LNWR, with Beames "Divisional Mechanical Engineer, Western Division". The LNWR was then grouped in 1923 into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
(LMS) and Beames became "Mechanical Engineer, Crewe". Beames was overlooked in favour of the elderly Hughes for the top position.
In December 1930 Beames was made Deputy Chief Mechanical Engineer, under Ernest Lemon
Ernest Lemon
Sir Ernest John Hutchings Lemon, OBE was Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway and later one of its three Vice-Presidents...
headquartered at Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
. Lemon was quickly promoted and a new man William Stanier
William Stanier
Sir William Arthur Stanier, FRS was Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway.- Biography :...
brought in.
Beames retired from the railway on 30 September 1934. He was then active in local politics and was awarded the CBE by George VI
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
in 1946.
External links
- Bowen Cooke, Whale & Beames at www.steamindex.com