Ernest Leopold Ahrons (1866-1926).
1926 Obituary [1]
ERNEST LEOPOLD AHRONS was born at Bradford on 12th February 1866, and was educated at the local Grammar School and at the Yorkshire College, Leeds.
In 1885 he went as an engineering pupil to the Swindon Works of the Great Western Railway, where he remained until 1890 when he left to obtain further experience in the drawing offices of Messrs. Beyer, Peacock and Co., Ltd., and Messrs. Fleming, Macfarlane and Co.
In 1893 he entered the service of the Egyptian Government as Managing Engineer of the workshops connected with the Ecole Khediviale d'Arts et Metiers, Boulac, Cairo, but after 5 years in this position ill-health compelled him to resign.
On his return to England he joined the firm of Messrs. Simon-Carves, Ltd., Manchester; and later, between 1902 and 1917, he undertook other engagements and consulting practice.
During the War he was appointed Trade Officer to the Department of Overseas Trade (Development and Intelligence Branch), which appointment he held till 1919, since when he was engaged almost wholly on literary work, particularly in regard to the steam locomotive upon which he was the author of several publications.
His death occurred at Nottingham on 30th March 1926.
He became a Member of this Institution in 1898.
1926 Obituary
"Everyone of our readers who takes an interest in locomotive design and locomotive history will hear with sincere sorrow of the death of Mr. E. L. Ahrons, on March 30th. There are few English engineers who combine so fully as Mr. Ahrons did an intimate knowledge of the principles of locomotive engineering with a complete knowledge of locomotive history. The great series which he completed but recently in our columns will be fresh in the minds of all, but many will recall with little less clearness the admirable descriptions contributed to our series entitled "Short Histories of Famous Firms" in which he dealt with origin of many British companies which built locomotives in the last century. His practical acquaintance with locomotive design and operation gained by ten years' experience at Swindon, first as pupil and then on the drawing-office, enabled him to speak with critical appreciation of the successive steps in locomotive development. His articles and books have therefore a character of their own and may justly regarded as of real technical educational value as well as of historical interest.