William Waddell
William Waddell (1863-1930)
1930 Obituary[1]
"THE LATE MR. W. WADDELL.
We regret to note the death, on April 28 last, at his home at Romilly Park, Barry, of Mr. William Waddell, late Chief Engineer of the Great Western Railway Company, and formerly general manager of the Barry Railway Co. Mr. Waddell was born on December 11, 1863, and after being educated privately, underwent a period of seven years’ training, from 1882 to 1889, under Messrs. Barry and Brunel. In 1889, on completing his training, he was engaged by Messrs. Forster, Brown and Rees to assist in the setting out of the Vale of Glamorgan Railway, and in the preparation of working plans and drawings. Two years later, he joined the staff of the Barry Railway Company as engineering assistant. In addition to the ordinary dock and railway maintenance work, the young engineer became engaged on operations connected with the layout and construction of new railway stations, reservoirs, pumping stations and pipe lines, a locomotive shop, a hydraulic engine house, movable and fixed tips, and a transit shed. In 1893, Mr. Waddell had immediate charge of the boring and blasting operations for the formation of the deep-water channel to Barry Dock. Four years later he was given the work of restoring the Porthrerry viaduct, for which he received a special vote of thanks from the directors of the Barry Railway Co.
In 1903 he succeeded his chief, the late Mr. James Bell, as engineer to the company, and in March, 1919, on the retirement of Mr. T. H. Rendell, became general manager of the Barry Railway. As is well known, this company amalgamated with the Great Western Railway Company in 1921, and in April of the following year Mr. Waddell became docks assistant to the Chief Engineer, Great Western Railway. His final promotion to Chief Engineer of the Great Western System, which position he held jointly with the late Mr. J. C. Lloyd, came in January, 1924. He officiated at Barry Docks, while Mr. Lloyd’s headquarters were at Paddington. Mr. Waddell continued to hold the position of joint Chief Engineer for some two years, finally retiring at the age of 63. He was for many years a member of the South Wales Institute of Engineers, and became an associate member of the Institution of Civil Engineers on December 2, 1890, rising to full membership on January 9, 1906.