John Walker. As
far as I know this is, the whole world over, the only instance in which
the memory of a railway general manager has been so honoured. It is of
heroic size and eloquently attests his worth. He was born in Fifeshire
in 1832, and died with startling suddenness from an apoplectic seizure,
at the age of fifty-nine, at Waterloo station in London. When he left
school he was apprenticed to the law, but at the age of nineteen entered
the service of the Edinburgh, Perth and Dundee Railway. This railway was
in 1862 amalgamated with the original North British, which was first
authorised in 1844, and extended from Edinburgh to Berwick. His
exceptional ability was soon recognised and his promotion was rapid. He
became treasurer of the amalgamated company, and in 1866 was appointed
its secretary. In this office he rendered great service at a trying time
in the company's affairs, and in 1874 was rewarded with the position of
general manager.
The North British Railway has had a chequered career, has suffered great
changes of fortune, and to Mr. Walker, more than to any other, is due the
stability it now enjoys.
Pages:
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140