John Fraser Masterton
John Fraser Masterton (1858-1938)
1938 Obituary [1]
JOHN FRASER MASTERTON was the first stores superintendent of the Southern Railway (formerly the South Eastern and Chatham Railway) at Ashford, Kent. He was born in 1858 and received his education at Anderson's College, Glasgow.
He served his apprenticeship from 1872 to 1879 with Messrs. Neilson and Company, in the Hyde Park locomotive works. Subsequently he entered the drawing office of the firm, but in 1889 he became principal of Petershill Science School, which was administered under the Glasgow Schools Board. In 1892 he received the appointment of chief locomotive draughtsman to the South Eastern and Chatham Railway, at Ashford, and in 1896 he was promoted to be locomotive works manager. He occupied this position until he was appointed stores superintendent in 1913.
After his retirement in 1925 he continued to live at Ashford and devoted himself to municipal affairs. He retained his interest in engineering education until the end, and was the oldest member of the District Higher Education Committee. Mr. Masterton was elected a Member of the Institution in 1892. His death occurred at Ashford on 16th June 1937.