William Acheson Traill: Difference between revisions
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1868 Joined the Geological Survey of Ireland, becoming an expert on water supply. | 1868 Joined the Geological Survey of Ireland, becoming an expert on water supply. | ||
1881 With his brother Anthony he founded the Portrush, Bushmills, and Giant's Causeway Railway and Tramway Company. This operated the world's first electrical railway, and was funded by capital raised from friends and investors including Sir Walter Siemens and Lord Kelvin. Traill devised and patented a conduit system of burying the live rail in a pipe with electrical contact. The expected goods trade never took off, and the line remained until its closure 1949 as a summer tourist railway. | 1881 With his brother Anthony he founded the [[Giants Causeway, Portrush and Bush Valley Railway and Tramway Co|Portrush, Bushmills, and Giant's Causeway Railway and Tramway Company]]. This operated the world's first electrical railway, and was funded by capital raised from friends and investors including Sir Walter Siemens and Lord Kelvin. Traill devised and patented a conduit system of burying the live rail in a pipe with electrical contact. The expected goods trade never took off, and the line remained until its closure 1949 as a summer tourist railway. | ||
In February 1887 he ran in a by-election in North Antrim as an Independent Unionist, coming in third. | In February 1887 he ran in a by-election in North Antrim as an Independent Unionist, coming in third. | ||
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He married three times, and met his third wife, Nora Westwood, in 1895 when he rescued her from drowning. | He married three times, and met his third wife, Nora Westwood, in 1895 when he rescued her from drowning. | ||
1933 July 5th. Died | |||
In 1990, the Northern Bank issued a banknote bearing a portrait of Traill. | In 1990, the Northern Bank issued a banknote bearing a portrait of Traill. | ||
Revision as of 19:55, 7 May 2015
William Acheson Traill (1844-1933), the founder and managing director of the Giant's Causeway Electric Tramway
1844 Born at Ballylough, in County Antrim
Educated at private schools and graduated from Trinity College Dublin with a degree in Engineering in 1865 and a Masters in 1873.
1868 Joined the Geological Survey of Ireland, becoming an expert on water supply.
1881 With his brother Anthony he founded the Portrush, Bushmills, and Giant's Causeway Railway and Tramway Company. This operated the world's first electrical railway, and was funded by capital raised from friends and investors including Sir Walter Siemens and Lord Kelvin. Traill devised and patented a conduit system of burying the live rail in a pipe with electrical contact. The expected goods trade never took off, and the line remained until its closure 1949 as a summer tourist railway.
In February 1887 he ran in a by-election in North Antrim as an Independent Unionist, coming in third.
He married three times, and met his third wife, Nora Westwood, in 1895 when he rescued her from drowning.
1933 July 5th. Died
In 1990, the Northern Bank issued a banknote bearing a portrait of Traill.