Norman Charles Harris

Who was Norman Charles Harris?

Norman Charles Harris was a decorated World War I army engineer and Chairman of Commissioners of the Victorian Railways from 1940 – 1950.

Norman Charles Harris attended Scotch College, Melbourne and studied Engineering at McGill University in Montreal. He worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway followed by the Hydro-Electric Power Co. in Tasmania and in 1913 became a draftsman for the Victoria Railways and then joining his father in the rolling stock division.

During World War I he served on the Western Front with the 2nd Divisional Engineers. He organised trench improvements and the construction of four bridges over the River Ancre near Albert, Somme. He was awarded the Military Cross and a Distinguished Service Order. After the war, he spent some time in England, studying their railway system.

Returning to Melbourne in 1919, he became Assistant Chief Mechanical Engineer in 1922, Chief Mechanical Engineer in 1928, a Commissioner in 1933, and Chairman of Commissioners in 1940.

The blue Melbourne Suburban Electric Harris trains were named after him in 1956.