A LITTLE over 80 years ago in the April 1941 Railway Observer, the editorial included the following paragraph: “It is with deep regret that we record the death of Sir Nigel Gresley on 5th April at Warton House, Hertford. Sir Nigel was 64, and had led a most distinguished career as Chief Mechanical Engineer of the LNER”. Three months later in the July issue, the editor noted that “Mr Edward Thompson, Mechanical Engineer, Southern Area (Western Section) LNER has been appointed Chief Mechanical Engineer, in succession to the Late Sir Nigel Gresley, with headquarters at Doncaster.”