William Pollitt
Encyclopedia
Colonel Sir William Pollitt was general manager of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway
(MSL&R) from 1886 to 1902, the final three years being as General Manager of the renamed Great Central Railway
.
He had been appointed Accountant for the company in 1869 having previously served as chief clerk to that post. As Accountant he was responsible for an initiative in 1878 to reduce third-class fares to a penny a mile, which increased the net contribution from that class of passengers.
He was appointed to the newly-created post of Assistant General Manager in 1885. This post appears to have been created to bolster Underwood, the General Manager, whose health was failing. In turn Pollitt acceeded to the General Managership when Underwood was elected to the Board.
Among other achievements he piloted the MSL&R's strategic line from Beighton to Annesley via Chesterfield, which came into law in 1889.
Pollitt's disputes with John Bell of the Metropolitan Railway
were notorious.
Pollitt was appointed a deputy lieutenant
of Cheshire
in 1907 and High Sheriff of Cheshire
in 1908.
Pollitt was appointed to be a Lieutenant Colonel of the British Army
's Engineer and Railway Staff Corps on 28th April 1886. He was subsequently promoted to Honorary Colonel and received the Volunteer Officers' Decoration on 8 November 1898.
Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway
The Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway was formed by amalgamation in 1847. The MS&LR changed its name to the Great Central Railway in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension.-Origin:...
(MSL&R) from 1886 to 1902, the final three years being as General Manager of the renamed Great Central Railway
Great Central Railway
The Great Central Railway was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension . On 1 January 1923, it was grouped into the London and North Eastern...
.
He had been appointed Accountant for the company in 1869 having previously served as chief clerk to that post. As Accountant he was responsible for an initiative in 1878 to reduce third-class fares to a penny a mile, which increased the net contribution from that class of passengers.
He was appointed to the newly-created post of Assistant General Manager in 1885. This post appears to have been created to bolster Underwood, the General Manager, whose health was failing. In turn Pollitt acceeded to the General Managership when Underwood was elected to the Board.
Among other achievements he piloted the MSL&R's strategic line from Beighton to Annesley via Chesterfield, which came into law in 1889.
Pollitt's disputes with John Bell of the Metropolitan Railway
Metropolitan railway
Metropolitan Railway can refer to:* Metropolitan line, part of the London Underground* Metropolitan Railway, the first underground railway to be built in London...
were notorious.
Pollitt was appointed a deputy lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
in 1907 and High Sheriff of Cheshire
High Sheriff of Cheshire
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
in 1908.
Pollitt was appointed to be a Lieutenant Colonel of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
's Engineer and Railway Staff Corps on 28th April 1886. He was subsequently promoted to Honorary Colonel and received the Volunteer Officers' Decoration on 8 November 1898.