George Turnbull (engineer)

George Turnbull was the Scottish engineer responsible from 1851 to 1863 for the construction of the first Indian long-distance railway line: Calcutta to Benares up beside the Ganges river, 541 miles (871 kilometres), (601 miles including branches). The main line was later extended to Delhi. He had some 100 British civil engineers and 118,000 Indian workers. All railway lines, engines etc etc were brought from Britain in ships (before the Suez Canal existed) -- most then went in Indian ships up the Ganges river, despite monsoons.

For other people with the same name, see George Turnbull.

George Turnbull
George Turnbull
Born2 September 1809
Luncarty, Perth and Kinross (then Perthshire)
Died26 February 1889 (1889-02-27) (aged 79)
Rosehill, Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire, England
NationalityScottish
EducationPerth Grammar School from 18 September 1819
Edinburgh University from 3 November 1824
OccupationEngineer
Spouses
  • Jane Pope,
  • Fanny Thomas
ChildrenFive by his wife Fanny Thomas .. two children died as infants in India
Engineering career
DisciplineCivil engineer
InstitutionsInstitution of Civil Engineers 1838–1889
ProjectsEast Indian railways;

St Katharine Docks, London;

West Bute dock, Cardiff;

Middlesbrough Dock;

Dover railway;

Seacombe wall;

Great Northern Railway (Great Britain)
AwardsIn 1863 gazetted by the Indian Government as the "First Railway Engineer in India". He was also offered a British knighthood.

On completion, Turnbull was gazetted by the Indian government as the "First railway engineer of India". He declined a British knighthood.

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