Basic Biographical Details

Name: Walter Stuart Wilson
Designation:  
Born: 1850
Died: 24 October 1926
Bio Notes: Walter Stuart Wilson was born in 1850; no details are yet known of his background or training. In the 1880s he was taken into partnership by Alexander Simpson. Simpson was some 18 years his senior (born 1832), and had practised in south-west Scotland before coming into prominence as the engineer of a railway system in San Domingo which had been financed by Glasgow investors. He had returned in the early 1880s to take up an appointment as engineer to the Glasgow and City District Railway Company, a subsidiary of the North British, undertaking the tunnel from Finnieston to Bellgrove.

The firm of Simpson & Wilson was a civil engineering partnership specialising in railway work and particularly tunnelling for the North British Railway and its subsidiaries. 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 2Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1880s1922 
Item 2 of 2Summerdell, Holme, Carnforth, Lancashire, ScotlandPrivate19221926 

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 1Simpson & Wilson1880s1922Partner 

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 91888Glasgow Harbour Tunnel (Finnieston Tunnel), shaft and rotunda  GlasgowScotland 
Item 2 of 91895Scotland Street Power Station  GlasgowScotlandEngineers
Item 3 of 91897Borrodale Burn Railway ViaductArisaig Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 4 of 91897Glenfinnan Railway ViaductGlenfinnan Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 5 of 91897Loch nam Uamh ViaductLochaline Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 6 of 91897West Highland Line extension with tunnels, viaducts etcBraes of Arisaig ArgyllScotland 
Item 7 of 91901Caledonian Canal swing bridgeBanavie Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 8 of 91901Viaduct over Kendrum Burn on former Caledonian Railway line from Comrie to Lochearnhead StationBalquhidder StirlingshireScotland 
Item 9 of 91907Auld BrigAyr AyrshireScotlandRestoration with James A Morris

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