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John Dixon Ian Pearce

John Dixon By Ian Pearce

John Dixon by Ian Pearce


$36.99
Condition - Like New
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Summary

A colour review of John Dixon's contribution to railway, mining and maritime engineering.

John Dixon Summary

John Dixon: The Man Who Could Have Built the Forth Bridge by Ian Pearce

John Dixon (1835-1891) was one of the generation of British contractors who built railways, bridges and other civil engineering works around the world. Today most are generally forgotten, a fate entirely undeserved by the man who erected Cleopatra's Needle on the Thames Embankment and who built the first railway in China. John Dixon was competent and self-confident, with the boundless enthusiasm and energy typical of Victorian contractors. Had his tender for the construction of the Forth Railway Bridge been accepted, and it was the lowest tender received, history would have treated him differently. This book describes the life and works of John, his bridges, railways, jetties, seaside piers and other projects. His wider business interests, his professional colleagues and his family life are also covered. It includes an explanation of why his tender for the Forth Bridge was unsuccessful, but only mentions Cleopatra's Needle briefly as this is worthy of another book. Indeed, John's brothers, Sir Raylton Dixon (1838-1901) and Waynman Dixon (1845-1930) were also distinguished engineers and it is hoped to publish similar books on their careers. John, Raylton and Waynman Dixon were members of the same Dixon family, from Raby, Cockfield and Newcastle upon Tyne, as was Jeremiah Dixon of Mason-Dixon Line fame.

About Ian Pearce

Dr Ian David Pearce CEng, MIMechE With a background as a professional engineer and an amateur historian, Ian has been able to bring a unique perspective to understanding the lives and works of the Dixon engineering brothers, John, Raylton and Waynman. Ian's engineering career went from working on the shop floor at Aveling-Barford in Grantham building road rollers and dumper trucks to being a senior manager with Imperial Chemical Industries on Teesside, with a degree and fluid mechanics research at Nottingham University in between. He then spent time in Eastern Europe after the fall of communism promoting enterprise with Durham University Business School. After some years as a self-employed management consultant, Ian turned to history in retirement. He has run the Great Ayton History Society for the past fifteen years, personally carrying out research into village industries and families.

Table of Contents

1 Early life, education and first employment 2 Early years in London 3 Floating Swimming Baths 4 Southport Pier extension 5 Isle of Man 6 Windermere Ferry 7 Isle of Wight 8 Egypt and Cleopatra's Needle 9 Works in Brazil 10 Gibraltar water supply 11 Eau Brink Cut Bridge, Norfolk 12 Port Talbot and CwmAvon 13 Viaducts on the Whitby to Loftus Railway 14 Muelle del Tinto, Huelva, Spain 15 Customs House piers, Lisbon 16 Woosung to Shanghai Railway, China 17 Guimaraes Railway, Portugal 18 Llandudno Pier 19 London tramways 20 Douro Bridge tender, Porto, Portugal 21 Rebuilding the Solway Viaduct 22 Forth Railway Bridge tender 23 Rebuilding Hammersmith Suspension Bridge 24 Hawkesbury Bridge tender, Australia 25 Mining interests 26 Falkland Islands properties 27 Odds and Ends 28 Family and professional life Appendix: Engineering materials in the 19th century

Additional information

GOR013594235
9780951048887
0951048880
John Dixon: The Man Who Could Have Built the Forth Bridge by Ian Pearce
Used - Like New
Hardback
Newcastle Libraries & Information Service
20190204
238
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
The book has been read, but looks new. The book cover has no visible wear, and the dust jacket is included if applicable. No missing or damaged pages, no tears, possible very minimal creasing, no underlining or highlighting of text, and no writing in the margins

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