Edward Sharples
Edward Sharples (c1869-1943)
1944 Obituary [1]
EDWARD SHARPLES throughout his career was in the service of the Furness Railway, both during its independent existence and after its absorption into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. After receiving his education at a private school in Barrow-in-Furness, he began in 1884 a seven years' apprenticeship in the Furness Railway workshops and continued his studies at Barrow Technical School.
In 1891 he entered the drawing office, and in 1898 he was promoted to be chief draughtsman in the locomotive department and was also made inspector of materials. He held these joint appointments until 1905 when he became works manager, and in 1918 he received the additional appointment of assistant locomotive superintendent to Mr. D. L. Rutherford.
On the amalgamation of the railways in 1923 he was appointed assistant mechanical engineer and assistant motive power superintendent for the Furness and West Cumberland section. Six years later he became mechanical engineer at Barrow, a position he filled until his retirement from the company's service in 1931. He was keenly interested in engineering education and training, and served on the Barrow Higher Education Subcommittee, as representative of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. Mr. Sharples was elected a Member of the Institution in 1907.
His death occurred at Southport on 15th September 1943, in his seventy-fourth year.