Douglas Ferreira

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Douglas Ferreira, O.B.E., (1929 - 2003) was the longest serving General Manager of the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, a heritage railway in Cumbria, England known as the "Ratty". He was at the heart of the "Ratty" for thirty four years.

A pupil at the local St. Bees School, on leaving, Ferreira joined the Harrison Shipping Line as a cadet. After some years with the Line, he went to work in Preston and there he was an Executive of a Company that made Bond mini-cars (Bond Cars Ltd). It was during his time working for the aforementioned company that he became the first person to drive on a British motorway, this being the new M6, in a Bond mini-car.

When the Ratty was put up for sale in 1960, it was bought by Colin Gilbert and Sir Wavell Wakefield, who then appointed Ferreira as the new General Manager, because of his extensive railway knowledge.

During Ferreira's era, many changes ooccured on the railway including the arrival of new locomotives - River Mite, Northern Rock, Royal Anchor, Shelagh of Eskdale, Lady Wakefield and Bonnie Dundee. Many saloon coaches appeared, and two locomotives were constructed for export to Japan.

Ferreira was able to think laterally, and he came up with many pioneering ideas, able to solve problems. Many other railways benefited from his work on the Ratty. It is thought that one of his greatest achievements was the complete relaying of the track, using hardwood sleepers and rail of a uniform heavy weight.

In 1975, the Ratty faced a problem - there was need to operate one train in section, as opposed to a time interval system. As conventional train staff and ticket was not practical, a friend of Ferreira helped him introduce a new radio control and train order system.

In 1994, Ferreira retired as General Manager, and the following year was awarded an O.B.E. for his services to tourism. In his retirement, he continued with his interest in the Ratty, and also worked as a consultant on railway projects worldwide.

He died on May 24, 2003. It is thought that few people have left such an enduring legacy on the Ratty as he did. A new memorial diesel-hydraulic locomotive, built in 2005 and owned by the railway's preservation society was named Douglas Ferreira in his honour.