Australian railway engineer and railway chief commissioner (1861 – 1936)
James Fraser C.M.G., M.Inst. C.E. (20 August 1861[1] – 28 July 1936) was an Australian-born Chief Commissioner of New South Wales railways from 1917 to 1929. He has been credited with inauguration of Sydney's railway electrification.[1]
He joined the railways as a cadet draftsman[2] or civil engineer,[3] and in 1903 succeeded Thomas Rhodes Firth, his father-in-law, as engineer-in-chief for existing lines.[citation needed]
In 1914 he was appointed Assistant Commissioner, and in 1917 became Chief Commissioner, in place of Harper, who was in poor health. The role of Assistant Commissioner was restored:
Edward Milne, Assistant Commissioner, traffic
John Henry Cann, Assistant Commissioner, construction
Henry Fox, Assistant Commissioner, staff matters[4]
1931 he was appointed to the Transport Coordination Board,[3] which was dissolved in 1932 after the collapse of the Lang Government.[citation needed]
He died at his home "Arnprior", Avon Road, Pymble, at the age of 74 after a year suffering from tuberculosis.
Family
Fraser married Maria Elizabeth "Bessie" Firth (c. 1866 – 30 August 1929) on 11 November 1891.[5] They had four sons:[6]
Keith Aird Fraser (9 January 1893[7] – 23 August 1952) was born at "Burenda", Wycombe-road, Neutral Bay. He adopted a railways career, became Commissioner of Railways in 1952 but died the same year.
James Firth Fraser (21 September 1896[8] – 26 August 1927)[9] Son served overseas in WWI and completed his medical degree, but died from tuberculosis shortly after.
Noel Fraser (6 February 1903[10] – ) born at "Arnprior", Neutral Bay
^ ab"Our Railroad Chiefs". Sydney Truth. No. 1886. New South Wales, Australia. 28 February 1926. p. 10. Retrieved 1 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^ abc"Mr Fraser's Death". The Newcastle Sun. No. 5810. New South Wales, Australia. 28 July 1936. p. 7. Retrieved 1 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Family Notices". The Australian Star. No. 1240. New South Wales, Australia. 20 November 1891. p. 1. Retrieved 1 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 17, 110. New South Wales, Australia. 21 January 1893. p. 1. Retrieved 1 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 18, 264. New South Wales, Australia. 29 September 1896. p. 1. Retrieved 1 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 20, 260. New South Wales, Australia. 14 February 1903. p. 8. Retrieved 1 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 23, 012. New South Wales, Australia. 14 October 1911. p. 16. Retrieved 1 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
