William Arthur Lelean (1866-1934), in charge of the locomotive department of Rendel, Palmer and Tritton
1934 Obituary
WE regret to record the recent death of Mr. W. A. Lelean. who, being in charge of the locomotive department of Messrs. Rendel, Palmer and Tritton, had much to do with locomotive standardisation in India.
Mr. Lelean was a premium apprentice of Mr. William Dean, of the Great Western. One of his activities during recent years was concerned with the progress of the Institution of Locomotive Engineers, of which he was President for 1932-33.
1933 Obituary [1]
WILLIAM ARTHUR LELEAN had been in charge, since 1909, of the locomotive department of the consulting engineers to the Indian Government at Westminster. Besides the control of the inspection of locomotive contracts, his work was concerned more particularly with the design and details of the various standard types of locomotives called for by the Railway Board of India, which he carried out under the supervision of the consulting engineers and in collaboration with the locomotive builders.
He was born in 1866 at Port Hope, Ontario, and was educated at Queen's College, Taunton.
In 1882 he commenced a five years' apprenticeship with the Great Western Railway, and during this time received his technical education at the College, Swindon. He was then transferred to the drawing office. In 1891 Mr. Lelean gained a Whitworth Exhibition, and was subsequently promoted to the company's staff as inspector of materials.
He joined Sir Alexander M. Rendel and Son (now Messsrs. Rendel, Palmer and Tritton) in 1896 as inspector and was later placed in charge of locomotive contracts in the Glasgow district.
He went to Hanover in 1901 in charge of a locomotive contract placed there.
In 1909 Mr. Lelean was appointed chief inspector of the consulting engineers' locomotive department at Westminster, of which he took charge.
He had been a Member of the Institution since 1910, and held the office of President of the Institution of Locomotive Engineers for 1932-3.
He died on 27th December 1933.