Cornelius Lundie
Cornelius Lundie (1815-1908)
1908 Obituary [1]
CORNELIUS LUNDIE, who died at Cardiff on the 12th February, 1908, in his ninety-third year, was probably the oldest railway director living. For over 40 years general manager and engineer of the Rhymney Railway, he was, a few years prior to his death, appointed consulting director to the Company, and actively discharged the duties of that office until the end.
The descendant of an old Scottish family, he was born at Kelso in May, 1815, and was educated privately, subsequently attending science classes at Glasgow and Edinburgh Universities.
On the death of his father, in 1832, he took service under Mr. Charles Atherton on the works of the Broomielaw Bridge over the Clyde; and in 1836 he removed to Durham and took charge of the Clarence Railway in that county, a line which now forms part of the North-Eastern system. Three years later, a period of depression occurring, he went out to New South Wales, whence, after 8 years’ diversified experience, he returned to England in 1847.
He was next employed under the late Mr. Brassey on various railway works in this country, and from 1855 to 1861 he acted as manager of the Blyth and Tyne Railway, since absorbed by the North-Eastern Railway Company.
In 1861 his long connection with the Rhymney Railway enterprise commenced, on his being appointed manager of the line, then in its infancy. The early development of the undertaking was hampered by financial difficulties, and its subsequent success owed not a little to Mr. Lundie’s wise economy, keen foresight, and unfailing instinct for profitable further development. As engineer he designed and constructed many extensions of the system and widenings of the main line, including a double-way tunnel under the Cefn On or Caerphilly mountain, and a masonry viaduct of seven spans over the River Taff, besides new locomotive shops at Caerphilly, and other works. As general manager he was largely responsible for the policy of the company, the directors invariably reposing complete confidence in his judgment and ability.
In 1905 he was relieved of the onerous duties of manager, and was appointed consulting director of the company. He was also chairman of the Cardiff Steam Coal Collieries Company, and attended a meeting of the company in London a few days before his death.
Mr. Lundie was a man of strong religious principles, which he applied in the affairs of daily life. Strict to severity in business matters, in private life he could be bright and genial with the youngest, and he was esteemed a just and good-hearted man. He was proud of having personally known Sir Walter Scott and other great writers in early life. He leaves one son and several grandchildren; the son, Mr. G. A. Lundie, being also a Member of The Institution.
Mr. Lundie was elected a Member of The Institution on the 7th March, 1876.
1909 Obituary [2]
. . . for a number of years was associated with the Rhymney Railway, died at his Cardiff house last week in his ninety-third year. He was born at Kelso, county of Roxburgh, in 1815 . . . in 1855 was engineer and manager of the Blythe and Tyne Railway . . . [more]