Sir Trevredyn Rashleigh Wynne (1853-1942) was the Managing Director of the Bengal-Nagpur Railway from 1915 until 1930 when he became Chairman. During his long career he expanded the length of the Indian Railways by more than 5 times its original size and had an influential share in the construction and management of Indian Railways.
Wynne was the son of Llewelyn Wynne of Mold, Flintshire and was educated at Brighton College and the Royal Indian Engineering College, Coopers Hill.
Wynne gained his engineering qualification in 1874 from R. I. E. College, Cooper's Hill, and was one of the fifty engineers of 1874 batch appointed by the Public Works Department of India. They sailed for India in October 1874 from Southampton.
1874 November 18th. Posted as an Assistant Engineer, Rajputana Railway. He was instrumental in completing the Yumuna Bridge near Agra.
Worked on 'Dhond and Manmad Railway from February 1877 to October 1879.
On his promotion as an Executive Engineer he joined the Kathiawar State Railway in November 1879. He worked there till May 1883 and later had two small stints at the Bengal and North Western Railway and Sind-Sagar Railway and for a short while worked as Deputy Consulting Engineer to Government of India for the Guaranteed Railways in 1886.
Wynne resigned government service in 1887 to take up the appointment of Agent and Chief Engineer BNR in April 1887. He remained Agent of BNR till 1905 save for a long furlough from June 1902 to November 1903 when he was engaged in China in charge of an Engineering and Mining Company. Starting from scratch in 1887, the lines in 1905 stretched to 1,966 miles of length with a capital outlay of Rs.26 crores and an operating ratio less than 50 percent.
Wynne was appointed a Member of the Railway Board on its formation in 1905. Three years later Wynne became its President on the retirement of Sir F. R. Upcott in May 1908. He was appointed Knight Commander of the most eminent order of the Indian Empire in 1909 followed by Knight Commander of the most exalted order of the Star of India in 1911. He was Chairman Railway Board up to 1913.
After his retirement from the Railway Board he joined the BNR Company as its Managing Director and remained in that position from 1915 to 1930. He became its Chairman for five years.
1915 Wynne, Colonel Sir Trevredyn Rashleigh, K.C.S.I. (1911), V.D., K.C.I.E. (1902), C.I.E. (1903); President, Railway Board in India, (retired); s. of Llewelyn Wynne; b. 1853; educ: Brighton, and R.I.E. College, Cooler’s Hill; Agent and Chief Engineer, Bengal-Nagpur Railway; Honorary A.D.C., to Viceroy of India, 1889; Commandant, Bengal Nagpur Railway Volunteer Corps; Member, Imperial Legislative Council; Member, Railway Board in India. 1905; President, Railway Board, 1908; m. Winifred, d. of Henry Walter Conduitt, 1896 Address: Calcutta. Club: United Service, Raleigh.[1]
1922 K.C.S.I., K.C.I.E., M. Inst.C.E., Civil Engineer, c/o The Albany, Piccadilly. Office: 132, Gresham House, Old Broad Street. T. N.: Central 566. Ed. Brighton College and the Royal Indian Engineering College at Coopers Hill. Appointed to the Public Works Department Railways of the Government of India in 1874. Engaged until 7887 in the construction of State Railways in India. In 1887 appointed Agent and Chief Engineer of the Bengal-Nagpur Railway Co.; constructed and worked the Company's system until 1905. Then appointed Member of the Government Railway Board; President of this Board, 19c8-14. Resigned and appointed Government Director of Indian Railways at the India Office; resigned 1915. Since that date Managing Director, Bengal-Nagpur Railway Co.; Director, Anglo-Persian Oil Co.; Chairman, Burma Corporation and other Companies. Is a Member of Institution of Civil Engineers. Chief Works: Bengal-Nagpur Railway system in India, comprising many very large bridges, railway workshops and all works required for a large main line system, 3,oco miles long.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Indian Biographical Dictionary