Career
After serving an apprenticeship with and working for various private locomotive manufacturers he joined the Caledonian Railway in 1890, and became chief draughtsman, and later Works Manager at Saint Rollox railway works under Dugald Drummond. In 1897 he moved with Drummond to join the London and South Western Railway (LSWR) as works manager at Nine Elms in London. He transferred to the new works at Eastleigh in 1909.
Following the death of Dugald Drummond in 1912, Urie became chief mechanical engineer until his own retirement at the grouping of 1923.
Robert Urie made a significant contribution to the development of more powerful express passenger and goods locomotives for use on the London and South Western Railway main line, with simple yet robust designs. In particular his LSWR H15 class, LSWR N15 class and LSWR S15 class 4-6-0 locomotives continued to be built by the Southern Railway under Richard Maunsell"s direction.
GB191410781, published 13 August 1914, Improvements in means for connecting pipes or conduits
GB191410782, published 3 September 1914, Improvements in steam superheaters.
