In 1904, he started an apprenticeship at the Crewe Works of the
London and North Western Railway (LNWR). After working in the drawing office, he became head of experimental locomotive work. He was appointed as Assistant Foreman at Crewe North Shed in 1909, and a year later became Assistant Outdoor Machinery Superintendent.
North Staffordshire Railway During the 1914–1918
World War I Ivatt served on the staff of the
Director of Transport in
France. After the war, he became Assistant Locomotive Superintendent of the
North Staffordshire Railway (NSR) at
Stoke-on-Trent in 1919.
London, Midland and Scottish Railway loco no 4 at Cricklewood in 1948 Under the Railways Act 1921, the NSR was absorbed (in 1923) into the
London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS). He was transferred to
Derby Works in 1928 and appointed Locomotive Works Superintendent in 1931. At the end of 1932 Ivatt moved to
Glasgow, becoming Divisional Mechanical Engineer,
Scotland. He returned to
England in 1937 as Principal Assistant for Locomotives to the Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME),
William Stanier. Stanier retired in 1944 and was succeeded as CME by
Charles Fairburn. When Fairburn died suddenly in October 1945, a new shortlist was prepared and George Ivatt, the senior candidate, with significant LMS locomotive experience, was appointed CME on 1 February 1946.
Robert Riddles, the other notable candidate for the post, was promoted to the board as Vice-President of the LMS. As CME in post-war
austerity Britain, Ivatt continued to build standard existing LMS locomotive types for which parts were readily available. Two additional
LMS Princess Coronation Class 4-6-2 express locomotives were built and several modified
Black Fives and the work of 'rebuilding' the Royal Scot and Patriot classes continued. The
LMS Ivatt Class 4 2-6-0 was introduced as well as the notable "Mickey Mouse"
LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0 and
LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2T, built to replace life expired 19th century branch line 0-6-0 and motor train 2-4-2T locomotive types, and the
Class WT 2-6-4T locomotives for the
Northern Counties Committee. The famous Ivatt twins, diesel-electric locomotives numbered
10000 and 10001, built by the LMS at Derby in association with
English Electric were Britain's first main-line diesel locomotives and were designed to operate singly or in pairs.
British Railways On nationalisation in 1948, Riddles became CME of
British Railways, whilst Ivatt remained as CME of the
London Midland Region until his retirement in 1951.
Brush Bagnall Traction From mid-1951 Ivatt was a consultant and director of
Brush Bagnall Traction, later becoming their General Manager. He retired as a director in 1957 but was retained as a consultant until 1964. Following the demise of Brush Bagnall Traction, Ivatt became a director of
Brush Traction where he was involved with the building of the Brush Type 2 locomotives. ==References==