Victoria's Railway King: Sir Edward Watkin, One of the Victorian Era's Greatest Entrepreneurs and Visionaries

Edward Watkin was a nineteenth-century entrepreneur and engineer who was responsible for many significant projects, including railways in Britain, Canada, the USA, Greece, India, and the Belgian Congo. He also created the London Extension of the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway and was the driving force behind the construction of the Channel tunnel. Watkin's personal life is explored through his surviving diaries, which reveal his ambitious and pioneering spirit.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 216 pages
\n Publication date: 16 March 2021
\n Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd
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Edward Watkin's remarkable achievements and initiatives, spanning social and economic domains, are almost too numerous to recount. While he is best known for his extensive railway projects, including becoming the chairman of nine different British railway companies and developing railways in Canada, the USA, Greece, India, and the Belgian Congo, his contributions extended far beyond that. During the 19th century, Watkin spearheaded a series of groundbreaking projects that profoundly impacted the lives of individuals both within and outside of Britain. In addition to holding senior positions with esteemed railway companies such as the London and North Western Railway, the Worcester and Hereford Railway, and the Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway, Watkin assumed the presidency of the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada. He also held directorial roles in the New York, Lake Erie and Western Railways and the Athens-Piraeus Railway. Furthermore, Watkin played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway's London Extension, commonly known as the Great Central Main Line, which extended to Marylebone in London. This ambitious project was just one facet of Watkin's grand vision, which entailed constructing a high-speed rail link from Manchester to Paris and ultimately to India. To achieve this, he envisioned the construction of a Channel tunnel, which commenced on both sides of the Channel in 1880 but faced abandonment due to concerns about continental invasion. Despite these challenges, Watkin remained determined and pursued other ventures. He acquired an area of Wembley Park, which he transformed into a leisure and events destination for urban Londoners. Over time, this park evolved into the iconic site of Wembley Stadium, hosting numerous sporting events and concerts. Additionally, Watkin's entrepreneurial spirit led him to develop the Great Tower in London, a structure intended to surpass the height of the Eiffel Tower. However, the tower's completion was never realized. While much remains unknown about Watkin's personal life, this essay seeks to shed light on his experiences and contributions through the examination of surviving documents and historical records.

\n Weight: 466g\n
Dimension: 163 x 240 x 23 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781526792778\n \n