James Fraser
(1861-1936) railway engineer and railway chief commissioner
About James Fraser
Lived 1861 – 1936 (aged 74–75). James Fraser was a railway engineer and civil servant.
James Fraser C.M.G., M.Inst. C.E. (20 August 1861 – 28 July 1936) was an Australian-born Chief Commissioner of New South Wales railways from 1917 to 1929. He has been credited with inauguration of Sydney's railway electrification. or civil engineer, and in 1903 succeeded Thomas Rhodes Firth, his father-in-law, as engineer-in-chief for existing lines.
In 1914 he was appointed Assistant Commissioner, and in 1917 became Chief Commissioner, in place of Harper, who was in poor health. The role of Assistant Commissioner was restored: Edward Milne, Assistant Commissioner, traffic John Henry Cann, Assistant Commissioner, construction Henry Fox, Assistant Commissioner, staff matters
He resigned in 1929 and was succeeded by W. J. Cleary. They had four sons: Keith Aird Fraser (9 January 1893 – 23 August 1952) was born at "Burenda", Wycombe-road, Neutral Bay. He adopted a railways career, became Commissioner of Railways in 1952 but died the same year. James Firth Fraser (21 September 1896 – 26 August 1927) Son served overseas in WWI and completed his medical degree, but died from tuberculosis shortly after. Noel Fraser (6 February 1903 – ) born at "Arnprior", Neutral Bay Ian Fraser (7 October 1911 – )
Other interests Fraser was known to play the occasional game of bridge.
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Important facts
People in James Fraser's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped James Fraser's
Frequently asked questions
Who was James Fraser?
(1861-1936) railway engineer and railway chief commissioner
When was James Fraser born?
James Fraser was born on 20 August 1861.
When did James Fraser die?
James Fraser died in 1936.
What was James Fraser's occupation?
James Fraser was a railway engineer and civil servant.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: James Fraser (railways administrator)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). James Fraser. https://biography.guide/james-fraser-railway-engineer/
MLA: "James Fraser." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/james-fraser-railway-engineer/.
Chicago: "James Fraser." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/james-fraser-railway-engineer/.
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