Allan Griffiths Watson
Allan Griffiths Watson (c1875-1946)
1946 Obituary [1]
"ALLAN GRIFFITHS WATSON was in the service of the South African Railways throughout his professional career.
He received his education at the South African College, Cape Town, and at the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College. He began his apprenticeship in 1894 in the Beaufort West works of the Cape Government Railways, but from the following year continued his practical training with Messrs. Neilson and Reid, of Glasgow, until 1900. His first appointment was that of locomotive representative and draughtsman on the Cape Government Railways. Subsequently he was made district locomotive superintendent on the Midland section. After acting as chief draughtsman and professional assistant at Uitenhage from 1902 to 1910 he served for the next twelve years as mechanical assistant superintendent at Kimberley. After filling the positions of mechanical and assistant chief mechanical engineer, he was promoted in 1929 to be chief mechanical engineer of the entire system, comprising a mileage of some 13,000 and a staff of over 12,000. In addition he was responsible for the maintenance of harbours and floating craft. Mr. Watson, whose death occurred on 13th November 1945, in his seventieth year, was elected an Associate of the Institution in 1904 and was transferred to Membership in 1930. He was also a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers."