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Name: LOCKYER, Alexander Edmund

image of individual

Nee: son of Sir Joseph Norman Lockyer

Birth Date: 24.10.1869 Hampstead

Death Date: 25.10.1914 at sea

Nationality: British

First Date: 1896

Profession: Uganda Railway - Loco. Supt. - arr. Mombasa 23/1/1896; Listed as Asst. Loco. Supt. 1/10/1897; Re-appointed Asst. Loco. Supt. 21/10/1897; Voi Sept. 1898; Makindu Feb 1899

Area: Mombasa, Voi, Makindu

Book Reference: North, Mills Railway

General Information:

North - Strongly criticised in Chief Engineer's annual report - 'lack of experience …. not suitable for post of responsibility' (CO 537) 24-6-1897; Chief Engineer recommended to the Railway Committee at the FO that he should be sacked 15-2-1898; Asst. Loco Superintendent in charge of Voi to Nairobi section resident at Makindu 23-2-1899; listed in Establishment Rolls under Loco Dept. Asst. Loco Superintendent 30-6-1899
Mills Railway - The first Locomotive Superintendent had been a young relatively inexperienced man named Lockyer. As the number of engines, many second-hand, increased and the tough conditions led to breakdowns, it fairly soon became apparent that Lockyer, though willing and popular, could not cope. An older man, Vernet from Ceylon, was recruited to take charge of the department, but he proved little, if any better. The crux came in October, when the axle boxes of new wagons carrying supplies to railhead ran so hot that the wagons had to be taken off the train at every station and left to cool down. On this occasion Vernet was warned, but a further unfavourable report led the Committee to terminate his services; he left Mombasa on 31 December, and Lockyer resigned a year later. Vernet's post as Superintendent was filled by C. Sandiford who had a remarkable career.

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