Robert Billinton An Engineer under Pressure

Robert Billinton strode the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway like a colossus, managing an elephantine department as Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Superintendent with a brief to overview the Marine Department, the company's engineering equipment, and 101 other matters that impinged on his expertise and required his attention. He was the last of the autocrats to run his empire in true Victorian style and discipline, but times had changed with the new century, as his successor, Marsh found to his detriment. The demands on his attention were prolific and, despite a good staff team under his direction, the pressures on the man must have been immense. Influenced by his experience with the Midland Railway, he nevertheless continued within the framework of practice set by Stroudley. To his credit he moved with the times, displayed a willingness to experiment and introduce new ideas, and kept the company abreast of modern developments. This books tell of his story.