Russell's restoration in sight

Russell at Dinas with Gowrie in NWNGR days
copyright K A C R Nunn

The restoration of Russell, the Hunslet built 106 year old narrow gauge steam locomotive is now in sight. Originally built for the abortive Portmadoc Beddgelert & South Snowdon Railway it was then acquired by North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways that ultimately became the Welsh Highland Railway.

The locomotive's owners the Welsh Highland Railway Ltd announced on Saturday 17th March that the proposal put forward by Alan Keef Engineering Ltd to complete the overhaul andrestoration of the locomotive had been accepted and the contract awarded to them. Discussions will now take place with Keef’s in order to transfer the locomotive to their works at Ross-on-Wye as soon as is convenient in order for work to commence as soon as possible. Funds are still required to ensure completion.

Russell Fundraising Appeal here

Alan Keef Ltd web site here

James Cholmeley Russell (1841 – 1912)

James Cholmeley Russell (1841 – 1912), a photo by Boxbrownie3 on Flickr.

Russell's grave at St John's Merrow in Surrey. he lies alongside his mother in law

Constance - Mrs Oscar Wilde and friend of Lucy Russell

James Cholmeley Russell pops up briefly in ‘Constance: The Tragic and Scandalous Life of Mrs Oscar Wilde’ the new biography by Franny Moyle. One of his sisters – Lucy – was a college friend.

Constance and Oscar Wilde were part of a circle whose outrageous behaviour shook the foundations of nineteenth-century society.

Constance is the extraordinary account of their marriage played out under public scrutiny, which crashed and burned as only a celebrity marriage can.

Franny Moyle has radically rewriten accepted opinion about the Wildes from both a personal and a literary perspective. Drawing on Constance’s numerous unpublished letters, she uncovers key revelations about a woman who was the victim of one of the greatest betrayals of all time.

Constance: The Tragic and Scandalous Life of Mrs Oscar Wilde - published in June 2011 by John Murray

Russell's illness

Mike Bishop the intrepid researcher on all things North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways/Welsh Highland Railway has found in the National Archives, Gowrie Aitchison's offer to the High Court, Chancery Division to become Receiver and General Manager of the NWNGR Company following Russell's death in 1912.
Paragraph 2 says he has been Secretary and Traffic Manager from March 1898 to September 1910, then only Secretary, "and during the illness and incapacity of the late Mr Russell which extended over 6 or 7 years I have done most of the work for him only troubling him when absolutely necessary."
So as has been suspected, Russell was ill as far back as the time when he was negotiating with North Wales Power & Traction Co. Ltd in 1906 over the electrification of the Portmadoc, Beddgelert and South Snowdon Railway. See the background here

The literature on illness and its impact upon decision making is mostly focused on politicians rather than businessmen. David Owen wrote 'In Sickness and in Power' in 2008 ISBN 978-0413-776624 where he also touches on his more recent themes of how hubris gets in the way of rational thinking. An earlier book from 1993 is 'When Illness Strikes the Leader - the dilemma of the captive king' by Jerrold M Post and Robert S Robins ISBN 0-300-05683-4. This is some ways is a better and more rounded book than Owen's and he in fact makes no mention of it at all! Both books underline the role that illness has had on world events and how quite understandably wrong or misjudged decisions can be made whether you are physically and/or mentally ill.   



Gowrie Aitchison's Affadavit to the Court



Russell as a military man

Russell was gazetted as a Sub-Lieutenant (Supernumerary) in the 23rd Middlesex (Inns of Court) Rifle Volunteer Corps on 28th March 1877.

The modern history of the Regiment begins in 1859 with the formation of the 23rd Middlesex (Inns of Court) Rifle Volunteer Corps; it became the 14th Middlesex in 1889. The Regiment was attached, in its later years, to the Rifle Brigade and also formed part of the 2nd London Volunteer Brigade and the "Grey Brigade". See more here and here

Russell heading South

Russell heading South, a photo by Boxbrownie3 on Flickr.

The Hunslet built locomotive 'Russell' at Beddgelert. One wonders if the eponymous James Cholmeley Russell ever rode on or behind it in a train?

Eleanor Russell

New information on Eleanor Russell (as Eleanor Broome) including her near involvement in the Anglo Zulu War in the blog section "The 1880s and beyond". See also Russell High School here