Richard Longlands
Richard Longlands (1830-1885)
1887 Obituary [1]
RICHARD LONGLANDS was born on the 30th of October, 1830, at Sutton Bridge, in Lincolnshire, his father, Joseph Longlands, being an architect and surveyor at that place.
His first employment was in the office of the late Mr. H. H. Fulton, M. Inst. C.E., in London. He afterwards returned for a time to his father as an assistant, and was engaged in the extensive reclamation and drainage works of the estuary of the Wash.
For several years, until 1852, he was occupied in numerous surveys for the railways projected at that time. He then returned to Mr. Fulton, and was employed under that gentleman on the West End and Crystal Palace Railway and other engineering works until 1856.
After an engagement on the drainage of Lord Cardwell’s estate in Lancashire, he left England in December, 1857, having been selected by the late Mr. Rendel, amongst a number of men sent out at that period, to recruit the staff of the East Indian Railway, which had suffered heavily during the mutiny.
At first he was stationed at Rajmahal, afterwards on the Soane district, and eventually spent the last six years of his service on the survey and construction of the Chord Line of the East Indian Railway.
On the completion of the main line, and the consequent reduction of the staff, he quitted the service of the company, having been for some years in the position of District Engineer, and returned to England in 1872, after fourteen years’ service.
In the year 1878, seeking employment in India, after a short engagement with the Local Government in Bengal, he was appointed on the staff of the Sind, Punjab and Delhi Railway, and was finally transferred to Karachi, where the experience he had gained in his youth amongst the fens of Lincolnshire was much appreciated, and was of great service in the work carried on by that Company in the harbour at Karachi.
Constant exposure to the sun, overwork, and anxiety, told the usual tale; and after several attacks of sunstroke, from which he had temporarily recovered, his health finally broke down altogether, and he returned to England in April, 1885. After lingering a few months, he died on the 10th of October, 1885. His death was much regretted by the few of his companions on the East Indian Railway who still survive. He was universally liked, his genial, cheerful, and merry disposition being much appreciated; - and no one was a greater favourite or more popular amongst his comrades.
Mr. Longlands was elected an Associate Member on the 1st of March, 1870.