The Midland Railway Study Centre Assemblage Trails

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY ASSEMBLAGE TRAILS
"The Enthusiast's Trail"
Stop Nine: Samuel Johnson Portrait

Now, back at the picture racks...

A charcoal or pastel style portrait of an elderly gentleman with white receeding hair and a white beard, gazing off to his right. He is Samuel Waite Johnson. The gold gilt frame is chipped and worn by time.

Stop 9

Where: D10 (picture rack No.10)

What: Samuel Johnson portrait

Material: Glazed gilt frame

Why: Much has been written about Samuel Waite Johnson’s impact upon the Midland Railway as its Locomotive Superintendent between 1873 and 1903, critical years of growth and expansion of the locomotive fleet. Suffice to say few people had as great an influence on a single organisation as Johnson did on the Midland. It was’t just his locomotive designs which shaped his reputation, but he was also universally highly regarded by his work force, with ample documentary evidence to that effect in our own collection. This portrait of him in later life serves as our small tribute to the man and his work. A photographic portrait taken by the Company's official photographer of him in middle age appears below.

Ref: RFB31315

A photograph of the same man in middle-age.