Basic Biographical Details

Name: James Carswell
Designation:  
Born: c. 1833
Died: 20 January 1897
Bio Notes: James Carswell was born c.1832 in Bonhill, Dunbartonshire, the son of Thomas Carswell, iron merchant, and his wife Anne. In 1851 he is described as a 'mining and land engineer' and was living in his parental home in the Gorbals. He began his career as resident of the Monklands Railway, subsequently amalgamated with the Edinburgh & Glasgow Railway which was absorbed by the North British Railway in 1865. In 1861 he was living in Derbyshire with hsi wife Anne and their young son.

He succeeded Deas as resident engineer of the western section of the North British Railway in 1869, becoming engineer-in-chief in 1879 on the retirement of James Bell. Queen Street Station, Glasgow remains his masterpiece. He engineered the Forth Bridge approach lines, and was responsible for many buildings on the West Highland Railway. He died in Edinburgh on 20 January 1897 and was buried in Dean Cemetery. He left £6,567.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 6Glasgow, Scotland(?)Private/business   
Item 2 of 67, Western Terrace, Murrayfield, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate 1897 
Item 3 of 6106, South Portland Street, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1851  
Item 4 of 6Market Street, Chapel En Le Firth, Derbyshire, EnglandPrivate1861 *  
Item 5 of 6Thrush Cottage, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, ScotlandPrivate1871  
Item 6 of 6Thrush Villa/1, St Cuthberts, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1881 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.


Buildings and Designs

This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 51878Edinburgh and Glasgow Station  GlasgowScotlandRearrangement and enlargement
Item 2 of 51885Springburn StationSpringburn GlasgowScotland 
Item 3 of 51894Haymarket Station  EdinburghScotlandArrangement of platforms as through platforms
Item 4 of 51895North British Workmen's HousesFort William Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 5 of 51897Helensburgh Central StationHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandDesigned; built posthumously

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Johnston, Colin and Hume, J R1979Glasgow Stations Newton Abbot: David and Charles 
Item 2 of 2Johnston, W T Scottish Engineers and Shipbuilders   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Scotsman21 January 1897   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Census records onlineCensuses