Alfred Weeks Szlumper

Alfred Weeks Szlumper CBE (24 May 1858 – 11 November 1934), was a British railway engineer. He was the president of the Permanent Way Institution and the chief engineer of the London and South Western Railway and later the Southern Railway company.

Biography Early life Szlumper was born in Milford, Pembrokeshire, on 24 May 1858, the son of Albert Szlumper, a Polish tailor, and his second wife, Sally Harris. He had an older brother of the same name who died in 1856. After attending the University of Wales, he served as apprentice to his older half-brother, Sir James Szlumper who was also a noted railway engineer.

Early career In 1880, Szlumper was appointed as engineering assistant on the South Eastern Railway. He served for two years before moving to the Great Indian Peninsula Railway as a resident engineer. He oversaw the building of the Bordon Light Railway in 1902, the remodelling of Clapham Junction station which was carrying over 1,000 trains a day, and the first electrification scheme carried out by the L&SWR between 1913 and 1916. He also completed the major reconstruction of Waterloo station in 1914–15.

Southern Railway In 1924, the London & South Western Railway became part of the larger Southern Railway, and Szlumper retained the post of chief engineer in the larger company. He oversaw the reconstructions of the Barnes, Kingston and Richmond bridges and the Feltham goods yard. He died on 11 November 1934 in Richmond.