Thomas Savin

Thomas Savin (1826-23 July 1889) was a British railway engineer who was the contractor who built many railways in Wales and the Welsh borders from 1857 to 1866. He also in some cases was an investor in such schemes.

Railway contractor

In 1857 Savin formed a partnership with David Davies to build the Vale of Clwyd Railway. The partnership was the principle contractor for many of the lines that became the Cambrian Railways.^[1] The partnership was dissolved in 1860.(http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/22525/pages/2751) He also had an interest in or worked on a number of minor railways, including the narrow gauge Corris Railway, the The Kington & Eardisley Railway^[2] and the Bishop's Castle Railway^[3]

David Davies had entered active politics in 1865 when he unsuccessfully fought at Cardiganshire the General Election. Later that year Savin was briefly mentioned as a possible Liberal candidate for Brecon.^[4]

Savin's bankruptcy in 1866 led to the stalling of the Aberystwyth & Welsh Coast Railway which became a part of the Cambrian Railways.

References

Bibliography

• Gasquoine, C. P.; The Story of the Cambrian – a biography of a railway; Woodall, Minshall, Thomas & Co, 1922
• Johnson, Peter; An Illustrated History of the Great Western Narrow Gauge; Oxford Publishing Co, 2011 (Savin's involvement with the Corris Railway)
• Williams, Herbert; Davies the Ocean – railway king and coal tycoon; University of Wales Press, 1991