Robert Benson Dockray (1811-1871), railway engineer. 1835 Assistant Engineer, London & Birmingham Railway. 1840 Resident Engineer for the whole line of the railway. Retained this post on the amalgamation of the London & Birmingham into the London & Northwest system. Resigned 1852 on health grounds.

The collection consists of folders of correspondence to Dockray by various authors. Contents of folders are transcribed from Dockrays own descriptions, but with additional information supplied (indicated in square brackets). All folders are labelled N.N. Meinertzhagen Collection 1957. Not all the original folders came to the Library & some folders no longer contain all the material that was originally present.

Folder 1 Francis Newburn, Solicitor, Stockton & Darlington railway 23rd April 1831 to prove levels Enquiries ( Undated) Wants further information (Undated)) 16th March 1864 after his retirement.

Folder 2 Autograph letters 3rd Feb 1835 Le Cher de Pambour (Pambour, G. de, Cher) Cesar Daly (Editor of Journal des Architectes) (undated) 9 September 1837 Lucienne de Moinne

Folder 3 Thomas Storey 7th Nov 1835. Directions for survey of the Great North of Railway

Folder 4 Lieut Peter Le Count, R.et. Assistant Secretary, London Birmingham railway (Peter Le Count, Lt. R.N.) 27th Jan 1836 Cost of the railway.

Folder 5 Theodore W. Rathbone, Director of the London & North Western Railway 13th Feb 1837. Lines of railway in which he has interest

Folder 8 Joseph Locke, Esq, M.P. (1805 - 1860) 25th July 1837 Letter to Theodore W. Rathbone in reply to his application on behalf of R.B.D. employment. T.W.R. letter to R.B.D. 8th Jan 1857 Congratulations on improved health. Knows the saddle rail. 2nd Feb 1859 will examine road at Kilburn

Folder 10 Hedworth Lee 30th August 1838 Recommending platelayers

Folder 11 Constantine R. Moorsom, Rear Admiral. Secretary, Birmingham Division, London & Birmingham Railway, afterwards one of the Board Of Directors of the London & NorthWestern Railway. He died 26th May 1861, Chairman of the Company

17th Sept 1838 Appointment as Resident Engineer, Rugby to Wolverton 25th Oct 1838 intending appointment 23rd Aug 1852 on resignation 1st March 1841 railway management 8th Oct 1860 rail controversy 10th Nov 1860 rail controversy result 25th Feb 1861 Miss Wheeler's care (n.b. Two letters originally in this folder `not included`)

Folder 12 Captain Featherstone, Ret. Assistant Sec, London & Birmingham Railway. (C.J.Featherstone, Capt, R.N.)

14th Sept 1839 Ripon, On the management of the line 7th May 1840 at Middleton One Row. Nr Darlington Folder 15 Charles Manby, Secretary of the Institution of Civil Engineers (1804 - 1884) 1st May 1843 Forms received for election 14th Nov 1849 Telford Medal awarded me for plans & description of the Camden Station.

Folder 16 Edward Dixon 19th May 1843 Wants a situation 11th Aug 1844 Joins me as Joint Engineer of projected lines of railway 23rd Dec 1848 Testimonial Dinner 19th May 1852 On my returning health

Folder 18 John E. Sanderson, Secretary to 16th March 1844 Portrait Richard Creed 16th April 1851 Two notes balance of accounts

Folder 19 Robert Garnet, Director of the London & North Western Railway, Member of Works committee 7th Aug 1843. On an illness 18th November 1848 To value rolling stock & Railway (One other item not included)

Folder 20 Edward Bury (1794 -1858) 20th Jan 1845 On discussion at Institution of Civil Engineers on proposed removal of James Walker as President

Folder 21 George Henry Phipps 21st Jan 1845 On proposed election of President of the Institution of Civil Engineers

Folder 22 Richard Creed, Secretary of the London & Birmingham Railway 28th July 1845 On my illness

Folder 25 Letters from overlookers (L.N.W.R.) Thomas Armstrong 23rd July 1847 Matthew Lowe 28th Feb 1843 Matthew Lowe 30th Jan 1854

Folder 27 Edward Watkin, Secretary Subcommittees London & NorthWestern Railway, afterwards Chairman of the Manchester & & Lincolnshire Railway , and also of the Grand Trunk of Canada. (Sir Edward William Watkin, M.P. 1819 - 1901) 16th Dec 1850 Borings on the Rugby & Leamington Line Item missing