Ernest Leopold Ahrons
Ernest Leopold Ahrons (1866-1926).
1926 Obituary [1]
ERNEST LEOPOLD AHRONS was born at Bradford on 12th February 1866, and was educated at the local Grammar School and at the Yorkshire College, Leeds.
In 1885 he went as an engineering pupil to the Swindon Works of the Great Western Railway, where he remained until 1890 when he left to obtain further experience in the drawing offices of Messrs. Beyer, Peacock and Co., Ltd., and Messrs. Fleming, Macfarlane and Co.
In 1893 he entered the service of the Egyptian Government as Managing Engineer of the workshops connected with the Ecole Khediviale d'Arts et Metiers, Boulac, Cairo, but after 5 years in this position ill-health compelled him to resign.
On his return to England he joined the firm of Messrs. Simon-Carves, Ltd., Manchester; and later, between 1902 and 1917, he undertook other engagements and consulting practice.
During the War he was appointed Trade Officer to the Department of Overseas Trade (Development and Intelligence Branch), which appointment he held till 1919, since when he was engaged almost wholly on literary work, particularly in regard to the steam locomotive upon which he was the author of several publications.
His death occurred at Nottingham on 30th March 1926.
He became a Member of this Institution in 1898.
1926 Obituary[2]
"Everyone of our readers who takes an interest in locomotive design and locomotive history will hear with sincere sorrow of the death of Mr. E. L. Ahrons, on March 30th. There are few English engineers who combine so fully as Mr. Ahrons did an intimate knowledge of the principles of locomotive engineering with a complete knowledge of locomotive history. The great series which he completed but recently in our columns will be fresh in the minds of all, but many will recall with little less clearness the admirable descriptions contributed to our series entitled "Short Histories of Famous Firms" in which he dealt with origin of many British companies which built locomotives in the last century. His practical acquaintance with locomotive design and operation gained by ten years' experience at Swindon, first as pupil and then on the drawing-office, enabled him to speak with critical appreciation of the successive steps in locomotive development. His articles and books have therefore a character of their own and may justly regarded as of real technical educational value as well as of historical interest.
1926 Obituary.[3]
We regret to record the death, early on March 30th, of Mr. Ernest Leopold Ahrons, at his residence, 16, Corporation Oaks, Nottingham.
Mr. Ahrons was born on 12th Bradford, and was educated at the School and Yorkshire College, Leeds,
From 1885 to 1888 Mr. Ahrons was a pupil at Swindon Locomotive Works, G.W.R., and for the next two years was employed in the Drawing Office and as an Inspector of Materials. In 1890 he became chief draughtsman to Fleming, MacFarlane and Co., Middleton, and then in the drawing office of Messrs. Beyer, Peacock and Co., Gorton. In 1892 he was appointed to the Ecole Khediviale d’Arts et Metiers, Boulac, Cairo, where he held the position of engineer and manager of the Government workshops. He resigned this appointment in 1898, owing to ill-health, and on returning to England in that year became engineer in charge of the general department of Henry Simon, Limited, of Manchester.
Between 1902 and 1917 he held various other positions, and was, during the War, appointed Trade Officer at the Department of Overseas Trade (Development and Intelligence). This post he resigned in 1919. For some years prior to 1919 Mr. Ahrons had been contributing articles to the Engineer and other technical journals, but since 1919 had devoted himself entirely to literary work, in regard to locomotive history and various locomotive engineering.
He was one of the Foundation Members of the Institution of Locomotive Engineers, having joined 1911, and acted for some time as Editor of the Institution Journal.