David Russell

It is with great sadness that we have to announce the passing of LRTA Vice President David Russell.

The death occurred on 6 April 2025 of David Russell, a long-serving member of the Light Rail Transit Association who became Secretary and Chairman of that body.   He died in a Derby hospital at the age of 87, with his son Huw by his side.

David Francis Russell was born on 4 October 1937.   His family was from Wales and his father Cyril had worked for the Taff Vale Railway and then (after the 1923 groupings) the Great Western Railway.   In 1934, on his father being made redundant, the family moved to Birmingham, where David was born.   He went to St Phillip’s Grammar School in that city and later secured a BSc (Eng) from London University in 1961. From an early age he loved transport, standing tall at the front of his pram while his mother Blodwyn pushed him!

David followed his father into the railway industry, beginning with an engineering apprenticeship at Derby Locomotive Works.   On qualifying, he held successive appointments in the industry at Crewe, Paddington, Old Oak Common and Kings Cross.  He married Julie Parker in Cardiff in 1972. They moved to York in 1976, with David having been appointed Eastern Region Traction Engineer.   Huw was born in 1980. In 1982 the family moved to Derby, with David having secured a promotion to be the BRB Freight Engineer. Ten years later he became Director, Traction and Rolling Stock for Railfreight Distribution.   He retired in 1993, but continued working as a rail consultant, duties which took him to Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and the United States.

David’s interest in tramways arose from his association with Arthur Camwell, who he came to know as a result in participation in the latter’s rail tours.   “Cam” was a hero to David, who became a member of the Association (then the Light Railway Transport League) and joined many of its overseas tours (on one occasion the Soviet authorities fogged his films and the military marched him to his UK-bound aircraft!).  More happily, he was a participant in a notable tour to the works of CKD the Tatra tramcar manufacturers in Praha then still behind the Iron Curtain.   After election to Council, he served as Secretary 1966-1976, Deputy Chairman 1988-2002 and Chairman of the Association 2002-2008.   On relinquishing the last office, he was appointed a Vice-President.  A highlight during his term of office was the hosting of the Czech engineers who had received the Association party on their visit to CKD Tatra.

David was a fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and a member of several other transport societies, including the Tramway Museum Society of which he was Chairman for a time.   He maintained a close relationship with many railway organisations.

In 2021 his beloved wife Julie passed away following a stroke. David had cared for her for the previous five years following an initial stroke. Huw survives David, and is a solicitor and director in the climate team of the public sector consultancy “Local Partnerships”.   While he doesn’t share quite the same passion as David for railways and tramways, he is a big fan of public transport and supporting public sector services.

David sustained a heart attack in 2004 and more recently suffered a general decline in health, including a measure of dementia.   Finally, he died in a Derby hospital of heart failure. He will be remembered fondly by all who knew him.                  HR, MW & GBC