Hunslet expert Donald’s 60 years’ IMechE service honoured at Middleton
HIS illustrious career spans six decades – engineering, designing, developing, manufacturing and operating locomotives, rolling stock and special vehicles for main line, light rail, and mine and factory railways has taken Donald Townsley all over the world.
Now his work has been recognised in the presentation of a long service award from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) at the Middleton Railway – close to where his career began at Hunslet Engine Company – in his home city of Leeds.
“I had effectively two careers, designing and building locos, selling and buying them back,” said Donald. “In more than 40 years, I went from being apprentice to general manager.”
Donald also worked as a freelance consultant and holds many other railway roles, including vice president of the Middleton Railway Trust, president of the Leeds Model Railway Society, and member of the Festiniog Railway Heritage Group. He is also a Leeds City Council alderman. He is currently working on two books on railway-related subjects with others, and has written more than 200 articles in railway and professional magazines, as well as producing three papers on train procurement to The Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
Donald's earliest memory of the railway is walking over the hill in Temple Newsam Park in 1943 and seeing the line of contractor's locomotives assembled for open cast coal works.
“The first time I came here,” he said, referring to the Middleton Railway, “was 1947 when it was still serving the colliery.”
More memories
He recalled working on the slowest shunting locomotives, while at Hunslet to the fastest when he was employed by the Spanish government as a technical advisor working on high-speed trains and variable gauge power cars for a new international line. “I finished work on the slowest shunting locomotives and never thought I would get involved with the Barcelona Paris High Speed trains, but I did,” he said.
Prior to the presentation of a glass award bearing an engraving of one of the first locomotives Donald worked on after joining Hunslet, marking more than 60 years of service and membership of the IMechE, Donald and guests – including members of the institute's railway division – were taken on a tour of the Middleton Railway.
Commenting on his award, Donald said: “It gives a feeling of satisfaction that life has not been in vain, although it was only a job, when all is said and done, but there is a touch of sadness that that particular lifestyle has been extinguished forever.”
Richard Gibbon OBE, the former head of engineering at the National
Railway Museum and secretary of IMechE's NE centre railway division, said: “The idea was to do the visit and be able to spend some quality time with Don, who has been with us for years and years.
“The branch Don was in was called the Institution of Locomotive Engineers – and Don deserves to be recognised by our group.”
Ian Smith, vice president of the Middleton Railway, added: “The Middleton Railway is delighted that Don has been recognised in this way.
“His contribution to the Hunslet Engine Company success is unrivalled, as is his membership and contribution to the many societies he has been a member of over the years.”