Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and IrelandTatlow, Joseph
History
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland
Tatlow, Joseph
Railroads -- Great Britain -- History
The Nestor of the Glasgow and South-Western Railway was Andrew Galloway,
the chief engineer. A Nestor he looked with his fine, strong, grave
features, abundant hair, and flowing beard. He was a very able engineer,
but had many old-fashioned ways, one of which was an objection to anyone
but himself opening his letters, and when absent from his office they
would at times lie for several days untouched. If remonstrated with he
was quite unmoved. He had a theory that most letters, if left long
enough unanswered, answered themselves. In me he always showed a
fatherly interest, and sometimes chided me for talking too freely and
writing too much. His last words when he bade me farewell, and gave me
his blessing were, to remember always to think twice before I spoke once.
On the very day I was assured of my appointment as general manager for
the County Down Railway I discarded the tall silk hat and the black
morning coat, which for some time had been my usual business garb, as it
was of many serious-minded aspiring young business men in Glasgow. Mr.
Galloway asked me the reason of the change, which he was quick to
observe. "Well," said I, "I have secured my position, so it's all right
now." Never since, except in London, have I renounced the liberty I then
assumed; the bowler and the jacket suit became my regular business wear,
and the other habiliments of severe respectability were relegated to
churchgoing, weddings, christenings, and funerals and other formal
occasions.
CHAPTER XV.
FURTHER RAILWAY LEGISLATION
In Chapter IX., at the outset of my Glasgow and South-Western service, I
reviewed the public Acts of Parliament passed since the beginning of
railways down to the year 1875, and it may not be amiss to notice now the
further railway legislation enacted up to 1885.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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