tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445569787371915337.post5275142886146003428..comments2024-03-29T05:24:30.793-07:00Comments on Shut up about Barclay Perkins: James Calder and the railwayRon Pattinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03095189986589865751noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5445569787371915337.post-57611064516516388982016-12-31T15:22:48.319-08:002016-12-31T15:22:48.319-08:00Timber is another point to consider when mentionin...Timber is another point to consider when mentioning James Calder and the railway.<br /><br />James Calder (1832-1917) was his father's elder son and must have shared some of his father's thinking. <br />Charles (1812-1865), had constant battles with the railway companies. There was little love between Charles Calder and Railway companies. They needed each other. I suspect The Calders felt robbed by monopoly fees imposed by the railways, who also probably had different ideas about where the rails should be placed, and who might pay. <br /><br />Four generations of the Calder family were timber merchants. The Company 'Calders and Grandidge' continues today in Boston, but there is no longer any family connection of which I am aware. Supplying sleepers and poles to railways was part of the Calder timber business. The Calder's first clients were coal miners, who wanted pit props. The coal miners needed the railways to move the coal. Railways were more convenient (door - door) than floating timber down river and then loading onto ships. <br /><br />I am persuaded that James involvement supplying timber to the mines around Alloa was what brought him to the place and thus one of the reasons he bought The Shore Brewery. His mother's ownership of the Green Tree Inn in Blairgowrie was probably another. As an entrepreneur, he saw the value of business in the port of Alloa (timber in and beer out). He had some small ships.<br />Peter Brownnoreply@blogger.com