Arthur MacNay (1865-1946)
1947 Obituary [1]
"ARTHUR MACNAY, who was formerly acting chief mechanical engineer of the South African Railways, was well known to a wide circle of South African members of the Institution, to which he rendered valuable services over a number of years as a representative on the South African Advisory Committee, and also in supervising its examinations held at the Durban Centre.
He was born at Shildon, Co. Durham, in 1865, and educated at King James I Grammar School, Bishop Auckland. His apprenticeship was served with the Darlington Wagon and Engineering Company, Ltd., from 1882 to 1884, and in the works and drawing office of the North Eastern Railway Co at Darlington, as a premium pupil, from 1884 to 1888. After a brief experience as marine engineer with Messrs. Blair and Company, Ltd., he joined the staff of the chief locomotive superintendent's department of the Cape Railways in 1890, and rose by successive stages to the position of mechanical engineer at Uitenhage, in 1913. Three years later he was transferred to Durban, and continued to serve in the same capacity until 1925, when he entered upon his final appointment at Pretoria. After his retirement in the following year Mr. MacNay was associated with his son, the late Mr. Harold MacNay, in establishing the engineering firm of Messrs. A. and H. MacNay, at Durban. On the death of the latter he was appointed permanent governing director, and continued to take an active part in the management of the firm until shortly before his death, which occurred on 16th October 1946. He had been a Member of the Institution since 1902."