Andrew Morton (1847-1899)
1900 Obituary [1]
ANDREW MORTON, born on the 2nd June, 1847, began his engineering career as a pupil of Mr. George Leedham Fuller.
After obtaining some practical experience at the [[Avonside Engine Co|Avonside Engine Works, Bristol, and in the works of Messrs. Westwood, Baillie and Company at Poplar, he passed in 1869 the competitive examination for the Indian Public Works Department, and in November of that year was appointed by the Secretary of State for India an Assistant Engineer, 3rd grade.
For some years he served as an Assistant Engineer on irrigation and military works in the Punjab and in the North Western Provinces.
In September, 1878, he was transferred to the Central System of State Railways and posted to the Holkar and Neemuch line, on which he remained until March, 1879, when he was drafted to the Western Rajputana State Railway. After acting for a time as Locomotive Superintendent of that line, he was appointed District Locomotive Superintendent in May, 1881.
In April, 1882, Mr. Morton was transferred to the Nizam’s Guaranteed State Railway as District Locomotive Superintendent. During the latter part of 1883 and the beginning of 1884 he acted as Manager and Traffic Superintendent of the line, and was personally thanked by the Viceroy of India for the excellent arrangements made to meet the heavy traffic at the time of the installation of the Nizam.
In June, 1885, he was transferred to the Northern Bengal State Railways Locomotive Superintendent., and in September, 1888, he was drafted to the Tirhoot State Railway in a similar capacity On that line he remained only six months, being posted in April, 1889, to the North Western Railway as District Locomotive Superintendent.
He was promoted to Deputy Locomotive Superintendent in 1890, and in August, 1893, he was transferred to the East Coast State Railway as Locomotive Superintendent. That post he held until his death, which took place at Waltair on the 3rd June, 1899.
Mr. Morton was of a somewhat retiring disposition, and nob very well known outside the limits of his professional work. In social life he was reserved and self-contained. Of massive frame, he was looked upon with awe by his native subordinates. He was a conscientious and able officer in the Locomotive Department, and was greatly respected by all who knew him and his real worth.
Mr. Morton was elected a Member of the Institution on the 7th February, 1893.