Tom Craigie

Reference:GB 254 MS 347
Dates of Creation:1910-2012
Name of Creator:
Physical Description:

Scope and Content
Research notes relating to the Dundee and Newtyle Railway, includes copies of original material dated 1770-2009, 2004-2011; Research notes relating to railways and engineering, includes copies of original material dated 1700-2009, 2004-2011; Other research material includes copies of original material, 2005-2012; Publications, 1910-2007; Artwork, includes copies of original material dated 1825-1838, 2004-2012.
Administrative / Biographical History
Tom Craigie was educated at St Joseph's Primary and St John's Secondary Schools. He obtained an early apprenticeship in electrical engineering with Drake & Gorham. After serving his two years of National Service he settled into the wholesale electrical trade with Wood & Cairns in King Street, Dundee. Within a few years he became Branch Manager and in 1958 he and his family relocated to Carnoustie. When Wood & Cairns was later acquired by the HAT Group, Tom was appointed Company Director and assumed overall control of their Scottish operations.
In 1983 he set up his own electrical wholesale business, TC Components based in Carnoustie. Though the business was successful they decided to wind it up in 1988 and Tom elected to lend his business experience to David Bottoms in his Ironmongery shop in Peter Street. Tom finally retired around 1996 to spend more time with his wife Ella who had by this time fallen into ill health; she died three years later.
His intense interest in the Dundee and Newtyle Railway started around 2005 following a family discussion. His research gathered momentum and on one occasion he was told by one particular expert around 2009 that, having pieced together so many previously unconnected strands of the story, he was probably by now the foremost authority on the subject. Tom felt strongly that the Dundee and Newtyle Railway was not afforded its proper place in history and that it was ahead of its time in many ways, preceding less innovative but more heralded developments in other parts of the country. He was also keen to highlight the qualities of Charles Landale whom he thought had not been appropriately recognised for his achievements.
The intended outcome of Tom's research was to have been twofold: a book chronicling the history of the railway from conception to demise, detailing Landale's role in particular; and a DVD featuring dramatization of some of the key events during the life of the railway. Due to begin filming some key sequences in the summer of 2011 he tragically passed away suddenly and unexpectedly shortly before this. The research notes are handwritten transcriptions of documents held in a variety of repositories, mainly the University of Dundee Archive Services, Dundee City Archives, Dundee Central Library and the National Archives of Scotland.
Arrangement
Usually chronological within series.
Access Information
Open for consultation subject to preservation requirements. Access must also conform to the restrictions of the Data Protection Act (2018), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, 2018) and any other relevant legislation or restrictions. Clinical information is closed for 100 years.
Acquisition Information
After Tom Craigie died in 2011 his son Gordon Craigie looked through the material and donated the research notes to the University.
Note
Tom Craigie was educated at St Joseph's Primary and St John's Secondary Schools. He obtained an early apprenticeship in electrical engineering with Drake & Gorham. After serving his two years of National Service he settled into the wholesale electrical trade with Wood & Cairns in King Street, Dundee. Within a few years he became Branch Manager and in 1958 he and his family relocated to Carnoustie. When Wood & Cairns was later acquired by the HAT Group, Tom was appointed Company Director and assumed overall control of their Scottish operations.
In 1983 he set up his own electrical wholesale business, TC Components based in Carnoustie. Though the business was successful they decided to wind it up in 1988 and Tom elected to lend his business experience to David Bottoms in his Ironmongery shop in Peter Street. Tom finally retired around 1996 to spend more time with his wife Ella who had by this time fallen into ill health; she died three years later.
His intense interest in the Dundee and Newtyle Railway started around 2005 following a family discussion. His research gathered momentum and on one occasion he was told by one particular expert around 2009 that, having pieced together so many previously unconnected strands of the story, he was probably by now the foremost authority on the subject. Tom felt strongly that the Dundee and Newtyle Railway was not afforded its proper place in history and that it was ahead of its time in many ways, preceding less innovative but more heralded developments in other parts of the country. He was also keen to highlight the qualities of Charles Landale whom he thought had not been appropriately recognised for his achievements.
The intended outcome of Tom's research was to have been twofold: a book chronicling the history of the railway from conception to demise, detailing Landale's role in particular; and a DVD featuring dramatization of some of the key events during the life of the railway. Due to begin filming some key sequences in the summer of 2011 he tragically passed away suddenly and unexpectedly shortly before this. The research notes are handwritten transcriptions of documents held in a variety of repositories, mainly the University of Dundee Archive Services, Dundee City Archives, Dundee Central Library and the National Archives of Scotland.
Peter Fair, who did some similar research and worked with Mr Craigie, questioned whether all of the collection belonged to Mr Craigie. Gordon Craigie asserted that it did.
Other Finding Aids
Descriptive list and handlist. Subject source lists and databases are also available.
Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements
The records are on paper and include electronic media, photographs and plans.
Archivist's Note
Description compiled by Bethany Edwards, volunteer, March 2013. Amended by Kenneth Baxter, August 2018
Conditions Governing Use
Reproduction is available subject to preservation requirements. Charges may be made for this service, and copyright and other restrictions may apply; please check with the Duty Archivist.
Appraisal Information
Nothing destroyed.
Custodial History
Gifted by Gordon Craigie. Archive Services gave a framed photograph of a plan of the Dundee Newtyle railway to Mr Craigie on completion of his research into the railway. Mr Craigie's son decided this should be given to the archives with the rest of the material, and had a plaque made to go with it.
Accruals
Not expected
Related Material
Dundee and Newtyle Railway.
Location of Originals
The collection contains original material and copies of original material. Original copies of some material are held in the City Archives, the National Archives of Scotland and the Archives of the House of Lords, Kew and Perth and Kinross.
Additional Information
Published
Catalogued
MS 347