| Images | |
 The grave of William Wilson at the Johannisfriedhof, Nürnberg. Picture by Androom (28 Feb 2009) |
 The grave of William Wilson at the Johannisfriedhof, Nürnberg. Picture by Androom (28 Feb 2009) |
Wilson, William |
| MECHANICAL ENGINEER, TRAIN DRIVER (ENGLAND) |
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BORN 18 May 1809, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear: Walbottle - DIED 17 Apr 1862, Nürnberg, Bayern GRAVE LOCATION Nürnberg, Bayern: Sankt-Johannis Friedhof (IIB, 170) |
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William Wilson was employed by railway pioneer George Stephenson in 1829. After Stephenson delivered the steam locomotive in Germany for the railway line between Nuremberg and Fürth in 1835, no engine driver was available in Germany and Wilson was contracted as driver as well as engineer, with the intention to instruct others. He first drove the Adles on 7 Dec 1835. Although he was only contracted for eight months and he was paid very well, his performance was excellent and his contract was extended many time. His health detoriated from standing on the driver's platform without a roof above his head and by 1859 he was hardly able to work anymore. He died in 1862 in Nuremberg. Events |
| 7/12/1835 | The first German railway between Nuremberg and Fürth is opened. During the first ride its only cargo was two barrels of local beer. The train driver was William Wilson. |
| Images | |
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The grave of William Wilson at the Johannisfriedhof, Nürnberg. Picture by Androom (28 Feb 2009) |
The grave of William Wilson at the Johannisfriedhof, Nürnberg. Picture by Androom (28 Feb 2009) |
Sources • WDR Videotext, Westdeutscher Rundfunk, Köln • William Wilson (engineer) - Wikipedia |
