Robert Dundas (1838-1897)
1897 Obituary [1]
ROBERT DUNDAS, son of James Dundas, iron merchant in Dundee, was born on the 31st December, 1838.
He was educated at the High School of Dundee, on leaving which he resided for a time with a relation, who was an extensive farmer in the Carse of Gowrie, where he gained a knowledge of agricultural matters which was afterwards useful to him.
He left in 1858 and became a pupil of Charles Ower, Harbour Engineer, Dundee, with whom he remained till September 1863, during which time a large new dock was constructed.
He then entered the office of B. and E. Blyth, of Edinburgh, and was engaged in parliamentary work, and in staking out, preparing plans for and superintending the construction of railways.
In October, 1866, Mr. Dundas was appointed principal assistant to Mr. George Graham, Chief Engineer of the Caledonian Railway Company, under whom he was engaged on the maintenance of the line, and also on various new works till 1871, when a resident engineer was required for the Glasgow and Paisley, and Glasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Joint Line, owned jointly by the Caledonian and Glasgow and South Western Companies, to which post he was appointed.
He carried out extensive additions to those railways, and under his charge the Glasgow and Paisley line was widened and large goods stations were constructed.
In 1880 he was appointed Resident Engineer of the Southern Division of the Caledonian Railway, latterly having over 500 miles under his charge, with an exceptionally heavy traffic on some parts of the line. Many additions were carried out under his superintendence. Mr. Dundas was President of the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland for two Sessions, 1891-93, and was also President of the local Association of Students of the Institution at Glasgow during the Session 1889-90. He attended faithfully to his work and made it a point to know all the details.
On the Golf Links at Troon, where he enjoyed his only relaxation and holiday, he was a familiar figure, and there he showed the energy and enthusiasm which were characteristic of him in his daily duties. He was seized with inflammation of the liver in London in 1896, from the effects of which he only partially recovered.
He died at Blane House, Bothwell, on the 28th June, 1897.
He was elected a Member on the 1st December, 1874.
We regret to announce the death of Mr. Robert Dundas, district engineer of the Caledonian Railway, which took place a few days ago at his residence, 2, Hillsborough-terrace, Hillhead. For more than a year Mr. Dundas had been suffering from jaundice, but was able to partially attend to his duties until last Friday, so that his death has come somewhat unexpectedly.
Mr. Dundas entered the service of the Caledonian Railway Company in 1866 as an assistant engineer, and in 1871 he left to occupy the position of engineer of the Glasgow, Barrhead, and Kilmarnock and Pa1sley Joint Lines, which he filled until 1880, when he re-entered the service of the Caledonian Railway Company as resident engineer of the southern division of the line, a position which he held at the time of his death.
Some years ago he served as President of the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland, of which he had already served as member of council and vice-president. He has left a widow, five sons, and a daughter. Mr. Dundas was a native of Forfarshire, and about 60 years of age."
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ 1897 Institution of Civil Engineers: Obituaries
- ↑ Engineering 1897/07/02
- ↑ Engineering 1897 Jul-Dec: Index: General Index