Major-General Gilbert Savill Szlumper (1884–1969) was a British railwayman, and the penultimate General Manager of the Southern Railway

Southern Railway (Great Britain)

The Southern Railway was a British railway company established in the 1923 Grouping. It linked London with the Channel ports, South West England, South coast resorts and Kent...

. He left the Southern Railway for war service in 1939, becoming Director-General of Transportation & Movements, War Office (1939–1940); Railway Control Officer, Ministry of Transport (1940–1941) and Director-General of Supply Services, Ministry of Supply (1942–1945).

Early life

Gilbert Szlumper was the son of Alfred W. Szlumper, Chief Engineer of the Southern Railway. Szlumper was trained as a civil engineer, becoming Docks and Marine Manager at Southampton, before becoming Assistant General Manager of the Southern Railway.

Southern Railway

He became Assistant General Manager of the Southern Railway in 1925, and was appointed General Manager of the Southern Railway upon Sir Herbert Walker

Herbert Ashcombe Walker

Sir Herbert Ashcombe Walker, KCB was a British railway manager.-Early life:Walker was born in London 15 May 1868. He was educated at the North London Collegiate School and at Bruges.-Career:...

's retirement in 1937. In 1939, Szlumper was seconded to the war office, and surrendered the post to Sir Eustace Missenden

Sir Eustace Missenden

Sir Eustace Missenden OBE was a British railwayman, successively the last General Manager of the Southern Railway and the first Chairman of the Railway Executive.-Early life:...

, who had refused to take up position as Acting General Manager in anticipation of Szlumper's return in peacetime.