Committee of the Privy Council for trade and plantations 1786-1870: Railway department

Railway Department

Members of the Railway Board 1844-5

In 1844 the functions of the Board of Trade in relation to railways were transferred to a distinct Board composed of the President or Vice President of the Board of Trade, the Inspector General or Assistant Inspector General of Railways, the Superintendent or Senior Member of the Board and the two Joint Secretaries of the department who all served ex officio. (fn. 1) The Board was abolished in 1845 when its functions were again undertaken by the Board of Trade itself. (fn. 2)

Commissioners of Railways 1846-51

In 1846 the powers formerly exercised by the Board of Trade in relation to railways were transferred to a statutory body known as the Commissioners of Railways. Provision was made for five such Commissioners of whom the President and two others were to receive salaries of £2000 and £1500 respectively while the other two offices were to be unpaid. The President and the two unpaid Commissioners were enabled to sit in the House of Commons. (fn. 3) In the event only one of the unpaid offices was ever filled and the second salaried commissionership was left vacant after the resignation of Alderson in 1848. Thereafter there were only three Commissioners, of whom the President and the unpaid Commissioner were President and Vice President of the Board of Trade respectively. The Commissioners of Railways were abolished in 1851. (fn. 4)

In the following list the names of salaried Commissioners are preceded by an asterisk.

Superintendent and Senior Member of the Railway Board 1840-5

This office was created in 1840 and conferred upon the Superintendent of the Statistical Department who was granted an additional salary of £200 in respect of his increased responsibility. (fn. 5) On the creation of the Railway Board in 1844 the Superintendent was made one of its members and his title was changed to Senior Member of the Board. (fn. 6) This office ceased to exist on the abolition of the Board in 1845. (fn. 7)

Law and Corresponding Clerk 1840-4

This office was created in 1840 with a salary of £500. (fn. 8) It ceased to exist in 1844 when its holder was appointed one of the Joint Secretaries to the Railway Department. (fn. 9)

Registrar 1842-53

In 1842 the senior of the Clerks in the Railway Department was given an increased salary and his office was thereafter generally known as that of Registrar. (fn. 10) The office ceased to exist in 1853 when the duties of the Registrars of the General and Railway Departments were combined. (fn. 11) The salary attached to the office in January 1842 was £300 rising by annual increments of £10 to £500. In July of the same year the starting level was reduced to £250. In 1848 a scale beginning at £350 and rising by annual increments of £15 to £500 was substituted. (fn. 12)

Secretaries 1844-53

In 1844 provision was made for two Secretaries to the Railway Board, one to be called the Law Secretary and the other the General Secretary, with salaries of £800 each. (fn. 13) Laing, the Law Secretary, resigned shortly after the abolition of the Board in 1845 (fn. 14) and for the next year all railway business was undertaken by O'Brien, the remaining Secretary, acting alone.

In 1846 the Commissioners of Railways appointed Bruce their Secretary with a salary of £1000. (fn. 15) In January 1847 the duties of the office were divided, Bruce becoming Secretary for the General Department, a newly-appointed official, Harness, being made Secretary for the Engineering Department. (fn. 16) This arrangement was of short duration. On Bruce's resignation in May 1847, Harness was appointed to undertake all the secretarial functions and the Department was served by a single Secretary thereafter. (fn. 17) On the abolition of the Commissioners of Railways in 1851 the Secretary of the Railway Department was placed under the immediate authority of the Legal Joint Secretary of the Board of Trade. (fn. 18) The office ceased to exist in 1853 when the Secretary was appointed an Assistant Secretary to the Board. (fn. 19)

Assistant Secretary and Assistant 1847-55

This office, originally known as that of Clerk of the Minutes and Correspondence, was created in 1847. (fn. 20) The salary, at first £300, was raised in 1848 to £350 rising by annual increments of £10 to £450. (fn. 21) In 1850 the office was merged with that of Statistical and Topographical Assistant. (fn. 22) In 1853 the Assistant Secretary was absorbed into the ordinary establishment of the Board of Trade and given the new title of Assistant in the Railway Department. (fn. 23) This office was abolished in 1855. (fn. 24)

Statistical and Topographical Assistant 1847-50

This office was created in 1847 with a salary of £300. (fn. 25) In 1848 provision was made for the salary to rise by annual increments of £10 to £400. (fn. 26) In 1850 the office was merged with that of Assistant Secretary to the Railway Department. (fn. 27)

Clerks 1840-8

On the formation of the Railway Department in 1840 one established Clerk was appointed with a salary of £100 rising after three years by annual increments of £10 to £300. (fn. 28) In 1842 this Clerk was granted an increased salary and shortly afterwards acquired the title of Registrar. He was replaced by another Clerk at the original salary. (fn. 29) A second Clerk was appointed in 1844. (fn. 30) In 1846 both were transferred to the Commissioners of Railways who then appointed a third Clerk. (fn. 31) Until 1848 these Clerks were assisted by a number of temporary unestablished Clerks. In that year the clerical establishment was divided into Senior, Junior and Supernumerary grades. (fn. 32)

Senior Clerks 1848-53

On the revision of the clerical establishment of the Railway Department in 1848 provision was made for two Senior Clerks with salaries of £200 rising by annual increments of £10 to £400. (fn. 33) In 1851 the salaries were assimilated to those of Clerks of the corresponding rank in the Board of Trade: £300 rising by annual increments of £10 to £500. (fn. 34) In 1853 the Clerks were fully incorporated into the establishment of the Board. (fn. 35)

Junior Clerks 1848-53

On the revision of the clerical establishment of the Railway Department in 1848 provision was made for two Junior Clerks. The number was increased to six in 1851 when the grade of Supernumerary Clerk was abolished. (fn. 36) The salary scale was originally £100 rising by annual increments of £10 to £200. (fn. 37) In 1851 it was assimilated to that of Clerks of the corresponding rank in the Board of Trade: £90 rising after three years by annual increments of £10 to £300. (fn. 38) At the time of the reorganisation of 1853 the Clerks were fully incorporated into the establishment of the Board. (fn. 39)

Supernumerary Clerks 1848-51

On the revision of the clerical establishment of the Railway Department in 1848 provision was made for six Supernumerary Clerks at salaries of £90. (fn. 40) In the event only four were appointed. (fn. 41) In 1851 all the Supernumeraries were promoted to the rank of Juniors and the grade ceased to exist. (fn. 42)

Private Secretary to President of Railway Commission 1847-8

The President of the Railway Commissioners was provided with the services of a Private Secretary with a salary of £150. Galton, the only holder of this post, received this in addition to his salary as Statistical and Topographical Assistant to the Commissioners. (fn. 43) The office was discontinued in 1848 when the presidencies of the Commission and of the Board of Trade were combined.

Legal Assistant 1847-53

This office was created in 1847. (fn. 44) The salary, originally £300, was increased in 1848 to £350 rising by annual increments of £15 to £500. (fn. 45) The office ceased to exist in 1853 when its holder was appointed Legal Assistant to the Board of Trade generally. (fn. 46)

Inspector General of Railways 1840-6

This office was created in 1840. Both its holders were officers of the Royal Engineers. The salary was at first fixed at £900 of which the charge to the Board of Trade was £570, the remainder being paid by the Ordnance. (fn. 47) On the formation of the Railway Board in 1844 the Inspector General became one of its members and his salary from the Board was raised to £800. (fn. 48) The office was discontinued on the appointment of the Commissioners of Railways in 1846.

Assistant Inspector General of Railways 1844-6

This office was created in 1844. (fn. 49) The salary, originally £400, was raised to £500 in 1846. (fn. 50) The office was discontinued in the same year when its holder was appointed an Inspector by the Commissioners of Railways. (fn. 51)

Inspectors of Railways 1846-70

The Inspectors of Railways, who were selected from amongst officers of the Royal Engineers, came under the authority of the Commissioners of Railways from 1846 to 1851, formed part of the Railway Department of the Board of Trade until 1853 and were placed under the immediate authority of the Board in the latter year. At first the Commissioners were served by a single Inspector, who had previously held the office of Assistant Inspector General of Railways. In 1847 the number of Inspectors was fixed at three. (fn. 52) It fell to two in 1850 but was raised again to three in 1853 at which level it remained until 1867. (fn. 53) In 1847 the salary of the senior Inspector was fixed at £600 and those of the other two at £400. (fn. 54) In 1848 a scale was provided beginning at £600 and rising by annual increments of £50 to £1000. (fn. 55) In 1853 this was reduced, for future appointments, to £500 rising by annual increments of £50 to £800. (fn. 56) In 1863 it was increased again to £700 rising by annual increments of £50 to £1000. (fn. 57)

In 1867 it was provided that there should be four Inspectors, to be divided ultimately into two seniors at £800 rising by annual increments of £50 to £1000 and two juniors at £600 rising by annual increments of £25 to £800, who were to fill the higher posts as vacancies occurred. (fn. 58)

Office Keeper 1846-53

This office was created in 1846. (fn. 60) The salary, originally £90, was increased in 1848 to £110 rising by annual increments of £5 to £130. (fn. 61) The office was abolished in 1853 when the duties were transferred to the Office Keeper of the Board of Trade. (fn. 62)

Messengers 1846-53

In 1846 provision was made for three Messengers in the Railway Department. (fn. 63) The salaries, originally £70, were increased in 1848 to £80 rising after three years by annual increments of £10 to £100. (fn. 64) In 1853 the Messengers were incorporated into the establishment of the Board of Trade. (fn. 65)

Porter 1846-53

This office was created in 1846. (fn. 66) The salary, originally £70, was increased in 1848 to £80 rising after three years by annual increments of £10 to £100. (fn. 67) The office ceased to exist in 1853 when the Porter was appointed one of the Messengers to the Board of Trade. (fn. 68)