Francis Webb Sheilds
Encyclopedia
Francis Webb Sheilds was an early civil engineer
on the Sydney Railway Company during its construction but before its opening.
In England, Shields worked on a number of railway projecrs, including the then Dublin and Kingstown Railway
. He considered himself to be a born railway engineer.
and the other two mainland colonies, Victoria
and South Australia
, to change the gauge of these railways from to , Sheilds being Irish and being the Irish gauge
, leading via tortuous steps to the national break of gaugee.
As an Irishman, the Irish gauge was clearly the best, as the English Board of Trade
had chosen it in preference to the English gauge, and conversion of the Dublin and Kingstown Railway
from the inadequate Standard Gauge
to the superlative Irish gauge
was double confirmation of this.
He resigned when his pay was cut due to financial difficulties of the Company.
His replacement, a Scot
named James Wallace
, recommended a change back to . The other two mainland colonies having order rolling stock refused to follow suit.
Sheilds' recommendation is the origin of all the breaks of gauge between and in Australia.
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
on the Sydney Railway Company during its construction but before its opening.
In England, Shields worked on a number of railway projecrs, including the then Dublin and Kingstown Railway
Dublin and Kingstown Railway
The Dublin and Kingstown Railway , which opened in 1834, was Ireland’s first railway. It linked Westland Row in Dublin with Kingstown Harbour’s West Pier in County Dublin.-History:...
. He considered himself to be a born railway engineer.
City Surveyor
Sheilds was the Sydney City Surveyor in 1843 for a few years where he worked on water works. He resigned in order to take up a post with the Sydney Railway Company.Sydney Railway Company Engineer
Sheilds main claim to fame is that he persuaded the Company, the GovernmentGovernment of New South Wales
The form of the Government of New South Wales is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
and the other two mainland colonies, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, to change the gauge of these railways from to , Sheilds being Irish and being the Irish gauge
Irish gauge
Irish gauge railways use a track gauge of . It is used in* Ireland * Australia where it is also known as Victorian Broad Gauge* Brazil where it is also known as Bitola larga no Brasil....
, leading via tortuous steps to the national break of gaugee.
As an Irishman, the Irish gauge was clearly the best, as the English Board of Trade
Board of Trade
The Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, originating as a committee of inquiry in the 17th century and evolving gradually into a government department with a diverse range of functions...
had chosen it in preference to the English gauge, and conversion of the Dublin and Kingstown Railway
Dublin and Kingstown Railway
The Dublin and Kingstown Railway , which opened in 1834, was Ireland’s first railway. It linked Westland Row in Dublin with Kingstown Harbour’s West Pier in County Dublin.-History:...
from the inadequate Standard Gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
to the superlative Irish gauge
Irish gauge
Irish gauge railways use a track gauge of . It is used in* Ireland * Australia where it is also known as Victorian Broad Gauge* Brazil where it is also known as Bitola larga no Brasil....
was double confirmation of this.
He resigned when his pay was cut due to financial difficulties of the Company.
His replacement, a Scot
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
named James Wallace
James Wallace
James Wallace may refer to:*James Wallace , English football player*James Wallace , British Member of Parliament for Horsham, Attorney-General...
, recommended a change back to . The other two mainland colonies having order rolling stock refused to follow suit.
Sheilds' recommendation is the origin of all the breaks of gauge between and in Australia.