Sir Nigel Gresley
A statue of Sir Nigel Gresley by Hazel Reeves at King's Cross station, London which was unvieled on April 5th, 2016 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of his death. Gresley was born in Edinburgh on June 19th, 1876 and served his apprenticeship at the Crewe works of the London and North Western Railway, afterwards becoming a pupil under John Aspinall at Horwich of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. After several minor appointments with the L & Y.R. he was made Outdoor Assistant in the Carriage and Wagon Department in 1901; in 1902 he was appointed Assistant Works Manager at Newton Heath depot, and Works Manager the following year.
This rapid rise in his career was maintained for, in 1904, he became Assistant Superintendent of the Carriage and Wagon Department of the L. & Y.R. A year later, he moved to the Great Northern Railway as Carriage and Wagon Superintendent. He succeeded Henry A. Ivatt as CME of the G.N.R. on October 1st, 1911. At the 1923 Grouping, he was appointed C.M.E. of the newly formed L.N.E.R. Gresley was awarded the CBE in 1920 and Knighted in the 1936 Birthday Honours.
The accompanying plaque reads:
'Sir Nigel Gresley
1876 -1941
Cheif Mechanical Engineer,
1911 - 1923 Great Northern Railway,
1923 - 1941 London & North Eastern Railway.
Based in an office at this station, he designed poerful, elegant and fast locomotives including the World Famous "Lyning Scotsman" and "Mallard", the fastest steam locomotive in the world. His streamlined trains departed from this station. They set new standards of comfort, speed and safety, and were the first truly high speed trains.
Sculptor: Hazel Reeves F.R.S.A.
Placed by Gresley Society Trust on 5th April 2016, the 75th anniversary of his death.
Sir Nigel Gresley
A statue of Sir Nigel Gresley by Hazel Reeves at King's Cross station, London which was unvieled on April 5th, 2016 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of his death. Gresley was born in Edinburgh on June 19th, 1876 and served his apprenticeship at the Crewe works of the London and North Western Railway, afterwards becoming a pupil under John Aspinall at Horwich of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. After several minor appointments with the L & Y.R. he was made Outdoor Assistant in the Carriage and Wagon Department in 1901; in 1902 he was appointed Assistant Works Manager at Newton Heath depot, and Works Manager the following year.
This rapid rise in his career was maintained for, in 1904, he became Assistant Superintendent of the Carriage and Wagon Department of the L. & Y.R. A year later, he moved to the Great Northern Railway as Carriage and Wagon Superintendent. He succeeded Henry A. Ivatt as CME of the G.N.R. on October 1st, 1911. At the 1923 Grouping, he was appointed C.M.E. of the newly formed L.N.E.R. Gresley was awarded the CBE in 1920 and Knighted in the 1936 Birthday Honours.
The accompanying plaque reads:
'Sir Nigel Gresley
1876 -1941
Cheif Mechanical Engineer,
1911 - 1923 Great Northern Railway,
1923 - 1941 London & North Eastern Railway.
Based in an office at this station, he designed poerful, elegant and fast locomotives including the World Famous "Lyning Scotsman" and "Mallard", the fastest steam locomotive in the world. His streamlined trains departed from this station. They set new standards of comfort, speed and safety, and were the first truly high speed trains.
Sculptor: Hazel Reeves F.R.S.A.
Placed by Gresley Society Trust on 5th April 2016, the 75th anniversary of his death.