John
Rastrick
was born in 1780. After studying iron manufacturing in Shropshire
he became the manager of a local foundry. In 1815 he built a cast
iron bridge at Chepstow. The following year he became involved in
making railway track.
In 1823 Rastrick was appointed engineer of the Stratford & Moreton
Railway. Three years later he testified at the parliamentary investigation
into the proposed Liverpool & Manchester
Railway. In 1829 he built a railway at Shutt End Colliery
and
was one of the three judges at the
Rainhill
Trials.
John
Rastrick
made the initial survey for the Grand Junction
Railway and the following year was appointed engineer of the London
& Brighton Railway. Rastrick upset his old friend, George
Stephenson, by supporting the direct route between
London and Brighton
that was being advocated by George Rennie.
Rastrick was responsible for the Portsmouth to Hastings line and most
of its branches. Other railways built by Rastrick included the Bolton
& Preston (1841), Gravesend & Rochester (1845) and Nottingham
& Grantham (1846). John
Rastrick
died in 1856.
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