Thomas Isaac Allen
Thomas Isaac Allen (1841–1911) was superintendent of the line of the Great Western Railway from 1894 to 1903.[1]
Life
He was born in London on 4 February 1841, the son of Thomas Allen (1814-1878) and Ann Bevill Isaac (1822-1902). He married Margaret Sophia Carlyle (1847-1933), daughter of Revd. Benjamin Fearnley Carlyle (1808-1869) and Margaret Harris Fisher (1809-1894) on 17 July 1869 in St James’ Church, West Teignmouth, and had the following children:
- Thomas Fearnley Allen (1870-1957)
- Margaret Annie Allen (1875-1943)
- Arthur Denys Allen (1876-1960)
- Mary Sophia Allen OBE (1878-1964)
- Herbert Charles Allen (1879-1919)
- Elsie Allen (1882-1929)
- Janet Bevill Allen (1883-1945)
- Alice Christine Allen (1886-1972)
- Edward Carlyle Allen (1890-1968)
He died on 20 December 1911 in Brighton[2] and left an estate valued at £2254 (equivalent to £219,700 in 2023).[3]
Career
He entered the service of the Great Western Railway in September 1856 as a clerk in the Office of the Superintendent of the London Division, George Nugent Tyrrell at Paddington. In July 1859 he was in charge of the Timetable and Excursion Departments. In October 1863 he was promoted to chief clerk to James Kelley, and in 1865 chief assistant to George Tyrrell on his appointment as first superintendent of the line. In 1870 he was promoted to superintendent of the Newport Division and subsequently Cardiff.
During his time at Cardiff, he was occupied with the absorption of the Llynvi and Ogmore Railway and the Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company, and the conversion of his section of the railway from broad gauge to standard gauge.[4] The gauge conversion in the Newport area was the first major project undertaken by the company. The plan devised divided the line into sections. The up line was narrowed first whilst the down was worked as a single line with crossing places, this provided a reduced services but without stopping the railway. All of the stock was finally transferred to the remaining broad gauge line and sent to Swindon, making sure that nothing was left behind in the general retreat. The standard gauge up line was then worked as a single line with passing places, allowing the remaining broad gauge down line to be converted.
For many years the Swindon Refreshment Room contract required every train except for a mail train to stop at the station for ten minutes. Mr Allen found a way for the company to amend its contract with the Refreshment Room[5] which resulted in trains being able to run non-stop through the station and from 1889 to 1903, the number of fast or express trains out of Paddington doubled in number, improving journey times.
In 1888 he became assistant superintendent of the line at Paddington.[6] After a brief period from 1891 to 1894 when was assistant general manager, he succeeded Nathan Burlinson as superintendent of the line.[7]
He retired in December 1903.
References
- ^ Members’ Portraits. Vol. 2. Retired Railway Officers’ Society. 1913. p. 35.
- ^ "Death of Mr. T.I. Allen, Late Superintendent of the Great Western Railway". Railway News. United Kingdom. 23 December 1911. Retrieved 1 February 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ UK Consumer Price Index inflation figures from 1209–2024 based on data from "Inflation calculator". Bank of England. London: Bank of England. 18 February 2026. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
- ^ "Great Western Railway". Swindon Advertiser. United Kingdom. 19 October 1903. Retrieved 1 February 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Improved Train Services : A great danger". Trowbridge Chronicle. United Kingdom. 21 September 1895. Retrieved 1 February 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Presentation to Mr. T.I. Allen at Cardiff". South Wales Echo. United Kingdom. 23 August 1888. Retrieved 1 February 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Mr. T.I. Allen". Railway Times. United Kingdom. 29 December 1894. Retrieved 1 February 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.