Abraham Fitzgibbon
Australian engineer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Abraham 'Abram' Fitzgibbon (23 January 1823 – 4 April 1887) was an Irish-born railroad engineer and a pioneer for narrow-gauge railways.
23 January 1823
Abraham Fitzgibbon | |
|---|---|
Abraham Fitzgibbon circa 1863 | |
| Born | Abraham Coates Fitz-Gibbon 23 January 1823 Ireland |
| Died | 4 April 1887 (aged 64) Bushey Heath, England |
| Alma mater | Chalmers University of Technology |
| Occupation | Engineer |
| Employer | Queensland Rail |
| Known for | Railway pioneer |
| Spouse | Isabelle Stovin |
| Children | 5 |
| Parent(s) | Philip Fitzgibbon Elizabeth Coates |
Career
In the early 1860s, Fitzgibbon was working at Dun Mountain Railway in Nelson, New Zealand, a horse-drawn line upon which he worked from 1860 (3 ft / 914 mm gauge)
Fitzgibbon arrived in the colony of Queensland in June 1863.[1] He was appointed first chief engineer of Queensland Railways after a rise through the ranks in the early stages of the railway department development.[2][3][4][5] The first operations of the Queensland Railways opened in 1865.[6]
There was debate regarding the choice of gauge, 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) versus 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge.[7] It is claimed that Fitzgibbon said that the narrow gauge would be sufficient to last 25 or 30 years and was cheaper.[8] Despite opposition from contemporaries, he successfully advocated for the use of narrow gauge or 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) track in Australia.[9][10][11] By 1867, the controversies included the termination of Fitzgibbon's contract.[12][13][14]
Death and legacy
Fitzgibbon died on 4 April 1887 at Moorside, Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire, England.
The Fitzgibbon suburb of Brisbane is named after Abraham Fitzgibbon.[15][16]
Queensland railways continue to be 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge to the present day.
See also
Other narrow gauge pioneers in order of influence:
- Carl Abraham Pihl (1825–1897) known for the Norwegian Railways opened 1863; 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
- Robert Fairlie (1831–1885) known for the Fairlie locomotive on Festiniog Railway introduced about 1865. 1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm) gauge.
- Thomas Hall (1823–1889) known for the Namaqualand Railway built 1868; 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge
- Paul Decauville (1846–1922) known for the Decauville system introduced 1875
- Everard Calthrop (1857–1927) known for the Barsi Light Railway opened 1897; 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge.