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Charles Bowen Cooke

Charles John Bowen Cooke
by James Peter Quinn (1869–1951)
Born11 January 1859
Died18 October 1920(1920-10-18) (aged 61)
NationalityEnglish
CitizenshipBritish
OccupationEngineer
Engineering career
DisciplineLocomotive engineer
Employer(s)London and North Western Railway
Significant designLNWR Claughton Class

Charles John Bowen Cooke CBE (11 January 1859 – 18 October 1920) was born in Orton Longueville (then in Huntingdonshire) and was Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the London and North Western Railway (LNWR).[2] He was the first to add superheating to the locomotives of the railway.[3] He wrote a book called British locomotives: their history, construction; and modern development which was published in 1893,[2] with a second edition in 1894, and third in 1899[4][1] A second book, Developments in Locomotive Practice followed in 1902.[2][5]

Whilst CME of the LNWR he was responsible for the introduction of several new locomotive designs, including the George the Fifth and Claughton classes.[2]

He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1918 New Year Honours for his efforts during the First World War.[6]

He died on 18 October 1920 and is buried in the churchyard at St Just in Roseland, Cornwall.[2]

Locomotive designs

References

  1. ^ a b "Bowen Cooke, Whale & Beames". Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e Cooke, B.W.C., ed. (December 1963). "Notes and News: Bowen Cooke's grave". Railway Magazine. Vol. 110, no. 752. Westminster: Tothill Press. pp. 125–6.
  3. ^ "LNWR GeorgeV Locomotive Trust". Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  4. ^ "British locomotives: their history, construction; and modern development". Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  5. ^ "Development in locomotive practice Author: C J Bowen Cooke". Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  6. ^ "No. 30460". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 January 1918. p. 368.
Preceded by Chief Mechanical Engineer
London and North Western Railway

1909–1920
Succeeded by