1914-1915: Alfred J. Hill

Alfred John Hill (1862-1927)

President of the Institution of Locomotive Engineers

At the time of becoming ILE President in 1914 Hill was the Locomotive Superintendent of the Great Eastern Railway.

Obituary published by IMechE:

ALFRED JOHN HILL, C.B.E., during the whole of his engineering career served the Great Eastern Railway.

He entered Stratford Works in 1877 at the age of fifteen, for a six years' apprenticeship. After a year in the drawing office he was transferred to the works manager's office and in 1891 was appointed assistant works manager.

In 1899 he was appointed manager of the locomotive, carriage and wagon works.

In 1912 he became locomotive superintendent and in 1915 chief mechanical engineer.

During the War Mr. Hill was chairman of the southern group of railways for the manufacture of munitions and represented all the railways of the country on the priority branch of the Ministry of Munitions.

In 1917 he went to America for the Government in connexion with the supply of materials urgently required by the railways, and for these services he was awarded the C.B.E. He was responsible for many improvements at Stratford works, including the building of s new foundry and a large engine repairing shop.

Mr. Hill became a Member of the Institution in 1901 and he was also a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

He won a Whitworth Scholarship in 1882 and was awarded several prizes for his papers read before the Institution of Civil Engineers. He was a Justice of the Peace for West Ham, and later for Bexhill-on-Sea.

In 1923 he retired and his death occurred on 14th March 1927.

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