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'''Edward Wilson ''' was born a civil and locomotive engineer noted for his work on 12 August 1820 the development of railways in Edinburgh, Scotlandthe nineteenth century. He was involved with the son design and construction of John Wilson, a civil engineer and was apprenticed to his father at Edinburgh Waterworks and then articled the [[Kidderminster Loop Line|Bewdley to Stark and Fulton, mechanical engineers in Glasgow and then the Railway Foundry in LeedsKidderminster Loop Line]].

==History==Wilson was born on 12 August 1820 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was engaged on the Caledonian Canal under Jackson and Beaneson of John Wilson, the Glasgow a civil engineer and Ayr Railway was apprenticed to his father at Edinburgh Waterworks and the Hull then articled to Stark and Selby RailwayFulton, mechanical engineers in Glasgow. In 1847 Early in his career he was appointed Locomotive Superintendent of worked at the York and North Midland Railway Foundry in Leeds for the locomotive manufacturing company E. B. Wilson and in 1853 Engineer-in-Chief on Co<ref name=GG>[https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Edward_Wilson Graces Guide]</ref><ref group="note"> Edward Brown Wilson, the Midland owner of E. B. Wilson and Great Western Railway in IrelandCo, was not a relation.</ref>.

From 1856 to 1863 he Wilson was Engineer of engaged on the Caledonian Canal under Jackson and Beane, the [[Oxford Worcester Glasgow and Wolverhampton Ayr Railway]] and, when that was taken over, the [[West Midland Hull and Selby Railway]]. He In 1847 he was appointed Chief Locomotive Superintendent of the York and North Midland Railway and in 1853 Engineer there and settled -in Worcester, working -Chief on designs for local railways. On amalgamation with the [[Midland and Great Western Railway]] in 1866 he established a consulting engineering practice at 9 Dean’s Yard, Westminster. He continued to work for the GWR but also advised the Great Eastern Railway and the Metropolitan Railway. He gave evidence to Parliamentary hearings and advised the Royal Commissioners in Ireland. Among his best known works still standing are Liverpool Street Station, London and the 1870 road bridge over the [[River Severn]] at Stourport.<ref name=GG/>

From about 1856 to 1860, Wilson drew he was Engineer of the first plans for [[Oxford Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway]] and when that was incorporated into the [[West Midland Railway]], he was appointed Chief Engineer there. He settled in Worcester and worked on designs for local railways including the Bewdley to Kidderminster Loop Line]]. When On amalgamation of the WMR with the [[Loop Line specification and contract |specification and contractGreat Western Railway]] was eventually let in 18741866 he established a consulting engineering practice, he was named as the ‘Engineer’Edward Wilson & Co., with a clause that if he diedat 9 Dean’s Yard, the ‘Engineer-in chief’ Westminster. He continued to work for the GWR would assume but also advised the Great Eastern Railway and the roleMetropolitan Railway.

Wilson gave evidence to Parliamentary hearings and advised the Royal Commissioners in Ireland. He was appointed a Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, but not a member of the Civils. Among his best known works still standing are Liverpool Street Station, London and the 1870 road bridge over the [[River Severn]] at Stourport. He died on 26 August 1877 and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery, London.

He died ==Involvement with the Severn Valley Railway==Wilson was latterly Chief Engineer of the OWW and subsequently of the WMR. [[Locomotives used on the Severn Valley Branch in commercial service]] during the opening years of the Severn Valley Branch were principally provided by those companies. While with the OWW, Wilson drew up the first plans for the Bewdley to Kidderminster Loop Line in 1860 on 26 behalf of the WMR and [[The Severn Valley Railway Company (19th Century)|SVR]] companies, powers for which were approved in The West Midland and Severn Valley Companies Act of 1 August 1877 1861. He subsequently prepared costings for the GWR in 1863 and 1834 after they assumed responsibility for the Act. The powers lapsed in 1865 and in 1867 new plans were drawn up by Michael Lane, Chief Civil Engineer of the GWR. These followed a similar route to Wilson's although using a somewhat different gradient profile and a longer tunnel. Powers for construction of the Loop using Lane's plan with a five year deadline were granted by the GWR Act of 31 July 1868. In 1872 the GWR proposed constructing a railway between Bewdley and Stourbridge instead of the Loop to Kidderminster. Plans for this ultimately unsuccessful scheme were prepared by Wilson and GWR Engineer W.G. Owen.  When the [[Loop Line specification and contract | Loop Line contract]] was buried let in Kensal Green Cemetery1874, LondonWilson was named in the contract as the ‘Engineer’, with a clause that if he died, the ‘Engineer-in chief’ to the GWR would assume the role. Wilson's death came some 10 months before the Loop Line opened; resident Engineer Mr Tyrell saw the project through to completion ==Notes==<references group="note"/>

*[[Oxford Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway]]*[[West Midland Railway]]*[[Kidderminster Loop Line]] ==References==<references/> ==Links==*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Wilson_(engineer) Edward Wilson (engineer) on Wikipedia]*[https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Edward_Wilson Edward Wilson on Graces Guide]