Francis William (Frank) Aickin (7 July 1894 – 23 July 1982) was the General Manager of New Zealand Railways from 1948 to 1951. He was born in Onehunga in 1894, where his father Thomas Aickin was the stationmaster. He was in the NZEF in World War I, having joined the Army as a 14 year trumpeter. He served at Gallipoli and Samoa (Army Reg No 4-66). He joined the NZR in 1911. He studied part-time at

Victoria University of Wellington Victoria University of Wellington ( mi, Te Herenga Waka) is a university in Wellington, New Zealand. It was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a constituent college of the University of New Zealand. The university is well know ...

(VUW) for a law degree; and qualified as a lawyer. In World War II he was a Colonel in the NZEF 16th Railway Operating Company in the Middle East; later promoted to Major. As General Manager he advocated electrification, see

Railway electrification in New Zealand Railway electrification in New Zealand consists of three separate electric systems, all on the North Island. Electrification was initially adopted by the New Zealand Railways for long tunnels; the Otira Tunnel, the Lyttelton Rail Tunnel and the ...

, though some of his engineering staff disagreed with this emphasis. He was a qualified lawyer and had previously been Staff Superintendent and Chief Legal Advisor to the Department. His successor

Horace Lusty Horace Campbell Lusty (11 June 1895 – 23 April 1972) was the General Manager of New Zealand Railways from 1951 to 1955. He was born on 11 June 1895 at Petone, and died on 24 April 1972. He joined the NZR staff as an engineering cadet on 5 F ...

favoured dieselification, except for the Wellington suburban network. Brett says that Aicken fell out with NZR colleagues and with the new

National Government A national government is the government of a nation. National government or National Government may also refer to: * Central government in a unitary state, or a country that does not give significant power to regional divisions * Federal governme ...

when he retired at only 57 years, although public servants in the Government Superannuation Fund (GSF) then usually had to retire after 40y service, and there is no indication on his file that there was any desire for an extension of service by him or the minister. But both his sucessors

, and

Alan Gandell Sir Alan Thomas Gandell (8 October 1904 – 10 July 1988) was the General Manager of New Zealand Railways from 1957 to to 1966 He joined as an engineering cadet in 1920, and qualified as a civil engineer. He was stationed in Auckland, Greymout ...

had their service extended. He retired on 31 July 1951 aged 57 with 40 years service, and died in Island Bay, Wellington on 23 July 1982 aged 88 years. Source: Archives New Zealand; his NZR personnel file.Archives New Zealand reference R10585679

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aicjkin, Frank 1894 births 1982 deaths New Zealand public servants New Zealand lawyers New Zealand people in rail transport 20th-century New Zealand lawyers People from Onehunga 20th-century New Zealand public servants New Zealand Army officers New Zealand Military Forces personnel of World War I New Zealand military personnel of World War II