James Clayton MBE (1871/1872–12 October 1946) was a British mechanical engineer who worked extensively on railway locomotives.
He attended the Technical School in Manchester and thereafter served an apprenticeship at Beyer Peacock, becoming a draughtsman in their drawing office. After six years in that post he took a position with the South Eastern and Chatham Railway (SECR).
In 1904, he left for a year's work with the Motor Manufacturing Co, an automobile manufacturer in Coventry, as their chief draughtsman and assistant works manager.
Following this, he was hired by Cecil Paget, Chief Superintendent of the Midland Railway, to work on his high pressure multi-cylinder locomotive. During his time with the Midland, he spent two years in charge of the casualty and investigation section, and was appointed Assistant Chief Locomotive Draughtsman in 1907.
In 1914, he rejoined the SECR and was soon Chief Locomotive Draughtsman.
From 1919, he was Chief Mechanical Engineer Richard Maunsell's personal assistant, and later his deputy. When Maunsell became the Southern Railway's CME in the 1923 Grouping, Clayton continued as his deputy.
He was also very active in the Institution of Locomotive Engineers, serving as a member of its Council and later a Vice President.
1946 Citation.[1]
James Clayton, M.B.E., who was elected a Member of the Institution in the year 1916, served his engineering apprenticeship with Messrs. Beyer, Peacock & Co., Ltd., from 1886 to 1893. He studied concurrently at the Technical School, Manchester, where he gained the Award of Queen’s Prizeman.
He afterwards entered railway employment, in which, with a short interlude on commercial internal combustion engines, he remained, and advanced to the position of Deputy to the Chief Mechanical Engineer, Southern Railway. Whilst holding this appointment, he was awarded the M.B.E. It was whilst in railway work, in 1916, that he began to take an interest in the Institution. The year after his election as a Member, he was elected by ballot to the Council, and continued in that capacity and as a Vice-President for many years without intermission until December, 1945 (a matter of 29 years). In that time he contributed generously to the proceedings of the Institution by reading four papers and being a regular contributor to the discussions.
On the occasion of the first visit, of the Members to Germany, in 1928, Mr. Clayton was called upon to deputise for the President (who was unable to be present) at some of the numerous functions which took place during the tour, and did so in an admirable way.
As Vice-President, he was frequently called upon to take the Chair at Council Meetings and also at General Meetings.
After so long a period of such faithful and unselfish service rendered to the Institution and to his profession, the Council felt it fitting to elect Mr. Clayton an Honorary Member, which was accordingly done on the 26th September, 1945.
Mr. Clayton in accepting the certificate said: —
It is on such occasions as this that one finds how very inadequate are mere words—rich as our language is—to express the feelings and emotions in which to convey one’s gratitude, both to you, Sir, and to the Council and to my good friends here present. In what I wish to say, you may think that I have reached the reminiscent stage, as do most folks in advancing years, I feel sure you will allow me just a few moments of your time on this unique occasion.
Since the year 1916 (30 years ago) when I first joined the Institution, a great many changes have taken place. In those days we had no regular meeting place, no headquarters except our publishing office in Lewes.
1947 Obituary.[2]
James Clayton, who was elected a Member of the Institution in the year 1916, served his engineering apprenticeship with Messrs. Beyer, Peacock & Co., Ltd., from 1886 to 1893. He studied concurrently at the Technical School, Manchester, where he gained the Award of Queen’s Prizeman. After spending six years in the drawing office of Beyer, Peacock and Co., he entered the drawing office of the (then) South-Eastern and Chatham Railway, and was engaged for a time as Chief Inspector of Materials and of some new locomotives which were being built at the time by three contracting firms.
In 1904 he left railway work to gain experience with internal combustion engines, and joined the Motor Manufacturing Co. of Coventry as chief draughtsman and assistant works manager. After 12 months, he was specially engaged by C. W. Paget (chief mechanical engineer of the Midland Railway) to help in designing and building Paget’s patent multiple-cylinder single-stroke locomotive (the history of which was recently published in the Railway Gazette). For two years he was in charge of the casualty and investigation section of the running department of the Midland Railway until appointed, in 1907, assistant chief locomotive draughtsman.
In 1914 he joined the S.E. & C. Rly. as leading locomotive draughtsman and was shortly afterwards appointed chief draughtsman. It was whilst here that he began to take an interest in the Institution. The year of his election as a Member he was elected by ballot to the Council, and continued in that capacity and as a vice-president for many years without intermission until December, 1945 (a matter of 28 years). In that time he contributed generously to the proceedings of the Institution by reading four papers and being a regular contributor to the discussions.
From 1919 to 1938 Mr. Clayton was personal assistant to the chief mechanical engineer, Southern Railway, and latterly his deputy, when he was awarded the M.B.E.
On the occasion of the first visit of the members to Germany, in 1928, Mr. Clayton was called upon to deputise for the President (who was unable to be present) at some of the numerous functions which took place during the tour, and did so in an admirable way.
As Vice-President, he was frequently called upon to take the chair at Council Meetings and also at General Meetings.