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RAILTON¹, James, CBE (1863–1949), contractor, was born on 10 May 1863, the fourth of eight children of James and Margaret Railton of Malpas, Monmouthshire. Leaving Chepstow Grammar School at the age of 15, he spent four years on surveys for the Gaveller's Office of H. M. Woods and Forests Department in the Forest of Dean before joining T. A. **Walker in 1882 on the Penarth Dock extension. He continued with Walker on the Severn Tunnel, the Barry Docks and the Buenos Aires Harbour before forming a partnership with J. J. Bithell to construct 200 km of the Buenos Ayres Great Southern Railway.