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Oakley, Sir Henry, 1823-1914

Joining the Great Northern Railway in 1849 as chief clerk in the secretary’s office, he took over as secretary in 1858, and became general manager in 1870. During his period with the company, it was constantly under threat from the Midland Railway and the Manchester, Sheffield & Lincoln Railway, predecessor of the Great Central Railway, as well as from the West Coast companies. Growing London suburban traffic at King’s Cross also placed a considerable demand on the company’s resources.

Oakley played an important part in representing the railway case at Parliamentary hearings and was secretary to the Railway Companies Association during the 1880s, for which he was granted a knighthood in 1891. He was elected to the GNR board in 1897 and retired as GM the following year, although he then became chairman of the Central London Railway.

Oxford, Worcester & Wolverhampton Railway – see West Midland Railway