Description

Joseph Tatlow (1851-1929) was a member of a “Midland Railway Family” – which included his father and two uncles, and a cousin, Frank Tatlow  (1861-1934) who became the company’s General Manager, just before Grouping.

Joseph was educated Derby, joining the Midland Head Office there in 1867. Seven years later he became chief clerk to the General Manager of the Glasgow and South-Western Railway and in 1885 moved to Ireland and the Belfast and County Down Railway. Was General Manager of Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland, 1890–1912; represented the associated Irish Railway Companies in the proceedings before the Vice-Regal Commission on Irish Railways, 1906–09; Chairman of the General Managers’ Conference of the Railways of the United Kingdom, 1910; Chairman of Irish Branch of Railway Benevolent Institution, 1891–1912, (see book “Tales of the Rail”).

Tatlow conducted various Government Inquiries regarding Light Railways, etc., in Ireland; as a Member of the Dominions Royal Commission, 1912–17, visited Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, S Africa, Canada, and Newfoundland.

This is a well written if slightly discursive autobiography, which takes the reader through Tatlow’s railway career with odd diversions into the colouring of meerschaum pipes and the development of golf as a hobby in Ireland. A useful feature is the description of each Act of Parliament applying to railways as a whole with an explanation of their effects. There is little about his family life; he mentions a wife, and at least one son. Rather more detail is given about the three or four week long holidays touring Europe each year, in the sole company of one of a selection of middle aged or elderly friends. Poor Mrs. Tatlow was apparently left at home.

This is one of the few “Railway Manager” autobiographies NOT written by a former LNWR Officer!