Basic Biographical Details

Name: Simpson & Wilson
Designation:  
Born:  
Died:  
Bio Notes: The firm of Simpson & Wilson was a civil engineering partnership founded by Alexander Simpson, who took Walter Stuart Wilson into partnership in the 1880s. It specialised in railway work and particularly tunnelling for the North British Railway and its subsidiaries.

Simpson was born at Coatdyke on 1 October 1832. His early experience appears to have been as a railway engineer in south-west Scotland as he was based in Ardrossan when his elder son Robert was born in September 1859. He first came into prominence as the engineer of a railway system in San Domingo which had been financed by Glasgow investors and on his return in the early 1880s was appointed engineer to the Glasgow and City District Railway Company, a subsidiary of the North British, undertaking the tunnel from Finnieston to Bellgrove. After the formation of his partnership with Wilson, who was some 18 years younger (born 1850), the practice undertook the Glasgow District Subway (1890-6) and the extension of the West Highland line from Fort William to Mallaig. An ambitious proposal for a third tier of lines at Queen Street Station, Glasgow, planned in 1898-9, was not carried out.

Simpson was for many years a director of the North British Railway. It is not yet clear when he retired, but his place was taken by his son Robert. He died on 22 May 1922 at Carbieston, Ayr, and was survived by Robert, another son and two daughters, his wife Agnes Fell having predeceased him. He was buried at Cathcart.

Wilson withdrew from the partnership in the same year (1922) and retired to Summerdell, Holme, Carnforth, Lancashire where he died on 24 October 1926.

The practice was continued by Robert Simpson who died in Glasgow on 25 June 1931 leaving the then very substantial moveable estate of £96,684 4s 3d.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 1Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness   

Employment and Training

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 3Walter Stuart Wilson1880s1922Partner 
Item 2 of 3Alexander Simpson1880sBefore 1922Partner 
Item 3 of 3Robert SimpsonBefore 19221931Partner 

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 81888Glasgow Harbour Tunnel (Finnieston Tunnel), shaft and rotunda  GlasgowScotland 
Item 2 of 81895Scotland Street Power Station  GlasgowScotlandEngineers
Item 3 of 81897Borrodale Burn Railway ViaductArisaig Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 4 of 81897Glenfinnan Railway ViaductGlenfinnan Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 5 of 81897Loch nam Uamh ViaductLochaline Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 6 of 81897West Highland Line extension with tunnels, viaducts etcBraes of Arisaig ArgyllScotland 
Item 7 of 81901Caledonian Canal swing bridgeBanavie Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 8 of 81901Viaduct over Kendrum Burn on former Caledonian Railway line from Comrie to Lochearnhead StationBalquhidder StirlingshireScotland 

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