Hi Roy,

Once again, thanks for your very prompt reply and the detailed information you kindly supplied..

In regard to Sierra Leone, I have discovered that a document entitled "Report on the Civil Engineering improvements to reduce the operating expenses of the Sierra Leone Government Railway" was prepared by H. Gatford. The 89-page report was published in 1948 on behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone by the Crown Agents for the Colonies. Unfortunately, it appears that it may be very difficult to track down a copy, but I shall try the British Library next time I am in London. The 2ft 6in gauge SLGR had some very similar locomotives to the 3ft 0in gauge L&LSR. Two 4-8-0 tender locos were supplied by Nasmyth, Wilson in 1910. Further 4-8-0 locos were built by the North British Locomotive Company and Hawthorn Leslie & Co., bringing the total to 17 by 1921. Two other engineers associated with Irish railways also served with the SLGR as Locomotive Superintendents during 1904-08 and 1918-19, the latter also spending 6 months with the L&LSR! The similarity between the L&LSR and SLGR would no doubt have made your father an ideal candidate to be involved with an investigation into civil engineering improvements, and it is quite possible that he worked with Gatford. No doubt the Crown Agents recruited those involved.

I may have forgotten to mention in my earlier e-mails that Robert B. Newell was the elder son of Peter B. Newell, a hackney coachman, and his wife Lilias. He was born at James Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, on 27th April 1874.

Best regards,
Gerald