Robert John Williams (c1879-1934)
1934 Obituary [1]
ROBERT JOHN WILLIAMS had been for thirty years in the service of the Taltal Railway, Chile.
He was born at Llandrillo, North Wales, and in 1893 he became a privileged apprentice in the Brymbo Steel Works, serving for three and a half years, after which he entered Gorton Foundry as an apprentice of Messrs. Beyer Peacock and Company, Ltd.
In 1898 he completed his apprenticeship and took charge of the erection of locomotives.
He went to Chile in 1903 to superintend the erection of locomotives for the Taltal Railway; in 1907 he became works foreman and was so engaged until 1923, when he was appointed chief assistant to the locomotive superintendent. In 1929 he became locomotive superintendent, and in addition took charge of the electrical generating plant and the maintenance of four piers with their general equipment.
He held this position until his death, which occurred on 15th June 1933, in his fifty-sixth year.
He had been a Member of the Institution since 1930.