Background
FORBES, William was born on June 21, 1856 in Dublin. Son of late William Forbes, General Manager of the Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland.
general manager railway manager
FORBES, William was born on June 21, 1856 in Dublin. Son of late William Forbes, General Manager of the Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland.
Studied at King’s College. Dulwich College; Germany and France.
After being in the Accountant"s office and working as a Travelling Auditor, he became Continental Manager in 1889 and went on to be Traffic Manager and Assistant General Manager. In 1899, he became General Manager of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway, where he instigated the programme of overhead electrification, rebuilt Victoria, extended Pullman services, rail motor services and built the Quarry line. He received a knighthood in 1915.
He retired when the Southern Railway was formed.
He died in 1936.
During the war he was a member of the Railway Executive.