Sir Kenneth Grange

[5944]

https://www.pentagram.com/news/in-memory-of-sir-kenneth-grange-1929-2024

 

Sir Kenneth Grange, age 95. Probably best known for designing the HST, but has a huge back catalogue of other recognisable items that he's designed.

[Ramblin Rich]

That's a shame, but a good age.

I met him in unusual circumstances, where he came across as a really nice person, not afraid to talk about his work and proud of it, but still humble.

A national treasure. There will be other memorials,  but having the preserved HST power car with his name is a fitting tribute.

[big jim]

I met him and had a brief chat at the NRM the same day I got passed out on HSTs with colas to drive the NMT 

 

Got a signed postcard framed in my layout room 

 

 

[kevinlms]

Did he also design the air deflector, which was a neat way of solving a real issue?

[Morello Cherry]

There is a really good obituary on the Wallpaper site. Reading it makes you realise the huge range of things that he designed and how hands on he was.

 

https://www.wallpaper.com/design-interiors/we-remember-kenneth-grange-the-british-industrial-designer-who-has-died-aged-95

 

Quote

His largest project in scale and possibly reach was the much-loved, long-serving Intercity 125 for British Rail. In the case of the latter, unimaginably by today’s silo-ed design practices, Grange worked on the aerodynamic form, the exterior and the interior simultaneously. When the Intercity 125 went into service it was hailed as saving Britain’s railways, and was fondly referred to as ‘the journey shrinker’.

 

It is interesting to me, because I've read a lot of Haresnape on railway design written pre-HST and in many ways the HST can be seen as the high point of railway design and the work done on trying to improve railway design. As I travel on a 450, IET, 374 or 390, I don't really ever get a sense that they have been designed to be 'nice' to travel in, more how can we cram as many people in as cheaply as possible while conforming to safety legislation.

 

 

[Hroth]

Today I visited the NRM, and noticed that the museum had placed a wreath and plaque commemorating Sir Kenneth on the HST power car, which I thought was a nice touch.