Walter Henry Scott
Walter Henry Scott (1837-1912)
1861 Walter Henry Scott, Locomotive Department, London and North Western Railway, Wolverton.[1]
1913 Obituary [2]
WALTER HENRY SCOTT was born at Coldstream, Berwick, on 16th January 1837.
His early education was received at Kincardine-on-Forth, after which he studied at the City of London School.
In June 1851 he began his apprenticeship under the late Mr. J. E. McConnell at the Wolverton Engine Works of the Southern Division of the London and North Western Railway. After passing through the various departments, including the drawing office, he was transferred to the office of the locomotive superintendent, and subsequently was promoted to the post of outdoor inspector in the locomotive department.
When the Southern Division was amalgamated in 1862 with the Northern Division, he was transferred to Crewe.
In December 1863 he was recommended by Mr. John Ramsbottom to Sir John Hawkshaw for the post of locomotive and carriage superintendent of the Mauritius Government Railways, which post he held from January 1864 to June 1870 when he was appointed General Manager and Engineer of these railways. During the period he held this position the two spans of the Grand River Bridge, damaged by a hurricane in March 1868, were repaired, launched, and fixed, and various extensions to the lines were made. For these services he received the special thanks of the Executive Council.
In 1879 he resigned his appointment, and after a few months as assistant manager of the Mersey Steel and Iron Works, Liverpool, he proceeded to Chile as general manager and engineer of the Taltal Railway. This was a line abounding in steep gradients and sharp curves and with almost a complete absence of water suitable for locomotives.
After about three years the concern was rendered successful, and Mr. Scott went to Buenos Aires as locomotive, carriage and wagon superintendent to the Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway.
Six years later he was appointed general manager and engineer of the Northern of Uruguay Railway (now amalgamated with the Midland and North Western of Uruguay Railway).
Having returned to England, he was offered the post of general manager and engineer of the Great Western of Brazil Railway, but not agreeing with the policy of the directors he retired. Since that date, 1904, he resided at East Molesey, Surrey.
His death took place at Ilford, on 8th November 1912, in his seventy-sixth year.
He became a Member of this Institution in 1861.
WALTER HENRY SCOTT, born on the 16th January, 1837, died on the 8th November, 1912, aged 75.
He served his apprenticeship in the Wolverton Engine Works of the London and North Western Railway, where he remained until 1864.
He was then appointed Locomotive Superintendent of the Mauritius Government Railways, and in 1870 he was promoted to the office of General Manager and Engineer, which he retained until 1879.
He afterwards acted successively as Locomotive Superintendent of the Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway, and General Manager and Engineer of the Northern Railway of Uruguay and of the Great Western Railway of Brazil.
Mr. Scott was elected a Member of The Institution on the 7th May, 1872.
1912 Obituary [3]