Aussie historian, author & entertainer Jim Haynes joins Overnight each week for his unique knowledge of the not-so-famous characters from Australia’s history. This week Jim shines the spotlight on John Whitton – the Father of New South Wales Railways.

John Whitton (1820 – 20 February 1898), was an Anglo–Australian railway engineer and the Engineer-in-Charge for the New South Wales Government Railways.  Serving between 1856 and 1890, he is considered the Father of New South Wales Railways.

Under his supervision, it is estimated that 3,494 km of railway around New South Wales and Victoria were completed.

Whitton was responsible for the construction of parts of the Main Western railway line, in particular the section over the Blue Mountains and the Lithgow Zig Zag, and much of the Main Southern railway line.

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