Abraham 'Abram' Fitzgibbon (23 January 1823 – 4 April 1887) was an Irish-born railroad engineer and a pioneer for narrow-gauge railways.
Abraham Fitzgibbon | |
---|---|
Born | Abraham Coates Fitz-Gibbon 23 January 1823 Ireland |
Died | 4 April 1887 Bushey Heath, England | (aged 64)
Alma mater | Chalmers University of Technology |
Occupation | Engineer |
Employer | Queensland Rail |
Known for | Railway pioneer |
Spouse | Isabelle Stovin |
Children | 5 |
Parent(s) | Philip Fitzgibbon Elizabeth Coates |
In the early 1860s, Fitzgibbon was working at Dun Mountain Railway in Nelson, New Zealand, a horse-drawn line upon which he worked from 1860 (3 ft / 914 mm gauge)
Fitzgibbon arrived in the colony of Queensland in June 1863.[1] He was appointed first chief engineer of Queensland Railways after a rise through the ranks in the early stages of the railway department development.[2][3][4][5] The first operations of the Queensland Railways opened in 1865.[6]
There was debate regarding the choice of gauge, 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) versus 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge.[7] It is claimed that Fitzgibbon said that the narrow gauge would be sufficient to last 25 or 30 years and was cheaper.[8] Despite opposition from contemporaries, he successfully advocated for the use of narrow gauge or 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) track in Australia.[9][10][11] By 1867, the controversies included the termination of Fitzgibbon's contract.[12][13][14]
Fitzgibbon died on 4 April 1887 at Moorside, Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire, England.[15]
The Fitzgibbon suburb of Brisbane is named after Abraham Fitzgibbon.[16][17]
Queensland railways continue to be 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge to the present day.
Other narrow gauge pioneers in order of influence: