Frank Thomson

Frank Thomson (1841–1899) was a railroad executive from the United States, and the sixth president of the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR).

Life Stereoscopic view of the PRR erecting shop at Altoona (c. 1870s) Frank Thomson was born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania on July 5, 1841, the son of Judge Alexander Thomson. At age 17, Thomson became an apprentice in the PRR machine shops in Altoona, and studied mechanical engineering there for four years. Thomson gained experience with restoring shops, repair of rolling stock and machinery, the rebuilding of bridges and the construction of new roads and telegraph lines. Later in his life, the press often commented he could both build a locomotive and act as its engineer.

He became a PRR vice-president in 1882, and was promoted to be the sixth president in 1897. Thomson instituted a system of track inspection, and was said to be instrumental in standardizing track and roadbed.

Legacy Following his death, his children established the Frank Thomson Scholarship as a memorial to their father. Thomson had a lifelong interest in the education of the youth of his fellow employees, and he devoted himself to helping them obtain an education. Today, the Scholarship are offered annually to provide assistance toward tuition and additional necessary expenses for undergraduate study at generally recognized and accepted colleges and universities.