Biography
Holden was born at Saltney, Cheshire on 23 August 1870, the third son of James Holden, who at that time was superintendent of the Great Western Railway workshops at Chester. After a private education, he attended University College School, London.
Upon leaving school at the age of 16, he joined the Great Eastern Railway (GER) at their Stratford Works, London, where his father had been Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Superintendent since 1885. There he studied under his father for four years, following which he worked in the drawing office for 18 months; he then became an inspector in the running department. In October 1892 he became Suburban District Locomotive Superintendent; two years later he was transferred to Ipswich, and in July 1897 he returned to London, as divisional locomotive superintendent. Several more promotions - including Chief of the Running Department, and Assistant Locomotive Superintendent - led to him succeeding his father as Locomotive Superintendent from January 1908.
In 1910, Holden was elected a Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He resigned from the GER in October 1912, being replaced by A.J. Hill.
Holden died at Rochester, Kent on 7 February 1918; his father died seven years later.
Read more about this topic: S. D. Holden
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