Robert Knox Hutchinson : Short Biography

Robert Knox "Bob" Hutchinson, the fifth living child of Knox Hutchinson and Margaret Elizabeth Forgrave, was born Presbyterian in Garvagh, Errigal, Coleraine, Ireland, on 30 June 1889. His siblings were Margaret Forgrave Hutchinson, born in 1880 in Garvagh, died single in 1937 in Belfast; William John Meek Hutchinson, born in 1882 in Garvagh, and married Elizabeth E. Chism in 1908 in Philadelphia, PA; Mary Ann (Minnie) Huchinson, born in 1884 in Garvagh, and married William E. Morrison Jr in Alleghany, PA, USA in 1906; Thomas James Hutchinson, born in 1886 in Garvagh, married Martha Jane Halliday in 1912 in Belfast and after her death, married Euphemia Clark Bethune in 1921 in Niles, OH; Elizabeth Forgrave Hutchinson, born 1891 in Garvagh, married John Henry Bradley Sr in 1915 in Belfast; Isabella Alexandra McNeary Hutchinson born in 1894 in Garvagh, married George Cree Jamison in 1914 in Belfast and after his death, she married Hugh Wallace about 1941 in Belfast; Sarah Jane "Sally" Hutchinson born in 1896 in Aghadowey, Coleraine, married Robert Charles Stanley Bower Jr in 1919 in Belfast; Hugh Smith Morrison Hutchinson born in 1898 in Belfast, and married Alberta A. Swager in 1935, in Erie, PA, USA. Bob married Johanna "Joey" Dalton on 26 January 1915 at the First Presbyterian Church in Larne, Northern Ireland. Joey was the second of four children of Thomas Dalton b.1864 in Antrim and Agnes Cromwell b. 1864 in Larne. Her brothers were William b.1888, Robert b. 1894, and David b. 1900. Bob and Joey likely met through Joey's father, Thomas, who worked as a surface man, laying and maintaining railroad tracks for the Midland Railway Northern Counties Commission (MRNCC). Bob and Joey had a daughter Agnes Cromwell Hutchinson, named after Joey's Mother, born in March 1918. Agnes passed away from illness 8 February 1921, aged 2 years, 11 months. Bob grew up loving the railroad. When the family moved to Belfast, Bob spent much of his time at the MRNCC train yard. He started working there in 1903 at age 14 as a porter. By 1911, he was a railway guard. By 1915 he was a Brakesman. He enlisted in the British Army in World War I as a Railway Control Officer (RCO). RCO's were paid 3 Shillings and 6 pence a week (17.5 pence), and had to attend 12 training days per year. After the war was over, Bob returned to the MRNCC and became an engineer. His most notable train, the Thomas Somerset, train #103, was a Class W Steam engine train built about 1937. It was built to use an Irish guage track 5'3" wide and was capable of 80 mph. The Thomas Somerset was used for the North Atlantic Express passenger route from Belfast to Portrush, and Ballymena. The passenger route was suspended during World War II due to the dangers of German bombing, but supplies were still run to and from the port at Portrush to Belfast (1939-1945). Bob passed away in Belfast on 19 December 1956 at age 67. Joanna lived until 12 October 1973. Bob, Joey, and Agnes are all buried together at Victoria Cemetery in Carrickfergus, Antrim, Northern Ireland.