Peter Wilson
Peter Wilson (c1835-1875) of the Highland Railway
1875 Obituary [1]
The death has recently been announced of Mr. Peter Wilson who for the period of six years had been resident engineer on the Highland Railway.
Mr. Wilson was brought up in the office of the late Mr. Andrew Thompson, civil engineer, Glasgow, and was entrusted by him in superintending the erection of the immense chimney stalk at St. Rollox Chemical Works, Glasgow, and many other works, after which he was engaged as resident engineer on the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway, which is now so advantageously continued to Glasgow College Station.
He acted as chief assistant to Mr. A. J. Adie, while that gentleman was engineer to the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway prior to its losing its individuality and becoming part of the North British system; and when Mr. Adie went to the Queensferry branch of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, the deceased gentleman accompanied him.
Mr. Wilson afterwards went to Inverness in the year 1868, and took service under the Highland Railway Company. The whole of the extensive line of railway northwards from Perth was placed under his charge, and he saw it growing, year by year-first to the West Coast, then to Helmsdale, in Sutherlandshire and at length to Wick and Thurso, the ‘ultima thule’ of Scotland. All this extent of railway was most efficiently surveyed by Mr. Wilson.
He was in every respect a thoroughly honest, conscientious, and industrious servant; and he was not only industrious himself, but he also secured a zealous discharge of duty by all those who were placed under him. Simple straightforward, and warm-hearted, Mr. Wilson wished well to all, and at the same time enjoyed the confidence of all who knew him.
Mr. Wilson was about fifty years of age at the time of his death.