Sir Henry W. Thornton, KBE -- Winnipeg MB
N 49° 53.334 W 097° 08.080
14U E 633986 N 5527946
The memorial plaque for Sir Henry W. Thornton, KBE in the lobby of Winnipeg's Union depot downtown.
Waymark Code: WMJXZ3
Location: Manitoba, Canada
Date Posted: 01/14/2014
Views: 5
A very nice bronze plaque recognizing Sir Henry Thornton, K.B.E (although an American citizen) is affixed to the wall inside Winnipeg's beautiful Beaux Arts Union Station.
Sir Henry was well-loved by the employees of CN, and is listed in the CN hall of Fame: (
visit link)
"A “people-person” for the people’s railway
Born Logansport, Indiana 1871
Began his railway career as an engineering draftsman with the Pennsylvania Railway in 1894. He was involved in a number of engineering capacities for the line including Engineer Maintenance of Way (1899–1900). In 1901 he joined the Long Island Railroad — a commuter operation — as Assistant to the President. In 1914 he accepted the position of General Manager on the Great Eastern Railway, a large commuter railway in London, England. His exploits concerning the organization of British railways during the Great War were recognized with a knighthood in 1919. Always ready for a new challenge, Thornton chose to work for the Canadian National Railways (CNR). On 1 December 1922 he assumed the reigns of power for the CNR from Hanna. Thornton was forced to resign as President in 1932 due to a scandal manufactured by his political masters. He died shortly afterward, a broken man.
Thornton moulded the CNR into his image; always a “passenger man”, he reshaped the CNR from primarily a freight carrier into a high profile company, offering crack passenger services and luxurious hotels in direct competition with the Canadian Pacific Railway. Thornton’s tenure was further marked by innovation: diesel-electric locomotives, and national radio and airlines were legacies of the Thornton era that bore fruit beyond the 1930s. Despite all of these achievements, however, it was Thornton’s legendary rapport, his reputation as a “people person” endearing him to his employees that made him great."
This handsome bronze plaque reads as follows:
"In Memory of
Sir Henry W. Thornton
KBE
Chairman and President
Canadian National Railways
1922-1932
Died March 14th 1933
This tablet is erected by the employees
Canadian National Railways"
More on Sir Henry can be found here: (
visit link)