Sir Herbert Walker Memorial plaque, Waterloo Station
When family finances meant that plans for a medical career had to be abandoned[4] Walker, aged 17, joined the London and North Western Railway (LNWR) as a clerk at Euston in April 1885. In January 1889 he became outdoor assistant to the Superintendent of the Line. In 1893 he was made Assistant District Superintendent, North Wales Division and 10 months later was moved to the same job in the Southern Division (covering London to Stafford);[2] in 1902 he became District Superintendent Euston, when he visited the US to study American practice.[3] In October 1909, he became Assistant to the Superintendent of the Line and in July 1910 Outdoor Goods Manager for the southern half of the LNWR.[2] In 1911 he became Assistant to the General Manager, Sir Frank Ree.[4]
After a frustrating year of indecision on the part of the Southern Railway's Board, he was appointed General Manager there in 1923, where he encouraged the electrification programme and was a major influence on locomotive development on the Southern Railway. On his retirement in 1937, he served as a Director of the Southern Railway until the end of its existence in 1947.[3]
In 1894 Walker married Ethel Louisa Griffith. After her death in 1909, he married Lorina Elizabeth Shield in 1910. There were no children from either marriage. Walker died on 29 September 1949 at his home in Hampstead, North London.[4][5]
CharacterEdit
Walker was physically well made, having stamina and a commanding presence. He looked what he was, a man who knew his job and meant to do it and had a remarkable memory.[3] There is a memorial to him, including a stone cameo portrait, set in the stonework at Waterloo station, commemorating his involvement in the rebuilding of the station, completed in 1922 and the electrification of the Southern Railway. He was a strong advocate of the Channel Tunnel.[3]
ReferencesEdit
^ abWho Was Who 1941–1950. Bloomsbury Publishing, London. 1980. ISBN0-7136-2131-1.
herbert, ashcombe, walker, 1868, september, 1949, british, railway, manager, general, manager, london, south, western, railwaycontents, early, life, career, personal, life, character, referencesearly, life, editwalker, born, paddington, london, 1868, doctor, e. Sir Herbert Ashcombe Walker KCB 16 May 1868 29 September 1949 was a British railway manager 1 Sir Herbert Ashcombe Walker General Manager London and South Western RailwayContents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Character 5 ReferencesEarly life EditWalker was born in Paddington London in 1868 the son of a doctor 2 He was educated at the North London Collegiate School and studied medicine for one year at St Francis Xavier College Bruges 3 He then passed the Apothecaries Hall exam 2 Career Edit nbsp Sir Herbert Walker Memorial plaque Waterloo StationWhen family finances meant that plans for a medical career had to be abandoned 4 Walker aged 17 joined the London and North Western Railway LNWR as a clerk at Euston in April 1885 In January 1889 he became outdoor assistant to the Superintendent of the Line In 1893 he was made Assistant District Superintendent North Wales Division and 10 months later was moved to the same job in the Southern Division covering London to Stafford 2 in 1902 he became District Superintendent Euston when he visited the US to study American practice 3 In October 1909 he became Assistant to the Superintendent of the Line and in July 1910 Outdoor Goods Manager for the southern half of the LNWR 2 In 1911 he became Assistant to the General Manager Sir Frank Ree 4 From 1 January 1912 he became General Manager of the London and South Western Railway 5 where he instigated the programme of third rail electrification He received a knighthood in March 1915 3 6 By January 1917 he was acting chairman of the Railway Executive Committee for which he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath KCB 7 After a frustrating year of indecision on the part of the Southern Railway s Board he was appointed General Manager there in 1923 where he encouraged the electrification programme and was a major influence on locomotive development on the Southern Railway On his retirement in 1937 he served as a Director of the Southern Railway until the end of its existence in 1947 3 In addition to his two knighthoods Walker was a lieutenant of the City of London Knight of Grace of the Order of Saint John and a Grand Officer of the French Legion of Honour He served in the Engineer and Logistic Staff Corps retiring as a Colonel 1 Personal life EditIn 1894 Walker married Ethel Louisa Griffith After her death in 1909 he married Lorina Elizabeth Shield in 1910 There were no children from either marriage Walker died on 29 September 1949 at his home in Hampstead North London 4 5 Character EditWalker was physically well made having stamina and a commanding presence He looked what he was a man who knew his job and meant to do it and had a remarkable memory 3 There is a memorial to him including a stone cameo portrait set in the stonework at Waterloo station commemorating his involvement in the rebuilding of the station completed in 1922 and the electrification of the Southern Railway He was a strong advocate of the Channel Tunnel 3 References Edit a b Who Was Who 1941 1950 Bloomsbury Publishing London 1980 ISBN 0 7136 2131 1 a b c d Herbert Ashcombe Walker The Railway Magazine Vol 37 no 217 July 1915 p 10 a b c d e f Biographies of chairmen managers amp other senior railway officers Steamindex Retrieved 17 March 2021 a b c Watson Colin Walker Sir Herbert Ashcombeun Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Oxford University Press a b Klapper C F 1973 Sir Herbert Walker s Southern Railway Ian Allan Limited p 12 ISBN 0 7110 0478 1 No 29094 The London Gazette 9 March 1915 p 2363 No 29938 The London Gazette 9 February 1917 p 1458 Business positionsPreceded bySir Charles Owens General Manager of the London and South Western Railway1912 1922 Company merged into the Southern RailwayFirst General Manager of the Southern Railway1924 1937 Succeeded byGilbert S Szlumper Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Herbert Ashcombe Walker amp oldid 1153270560, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
