In 1878 he transferred to the London and North Western Railway, which also operated in Ireland, with which he stayed until 1923.

In 1898 he was appointed Irish Traffic Manager himself and moved back to Dublin, occupying the post until 1920.

In 1920 he was appointed Deputy General Manager of the LNWR and from December 1922 continued in this role for its successor, the London, Midland and Scottish Railway.

In addition, Burgess was a member of the Dublin Port and Docks Board, deputy chairman of the Dublin and South Eastern Railway Company, a member of the Unemployment Grants Committee in London, and a director of the Great Southern Railways.

He died at his country residence at Riversdale, Enniscorthy, County Wexford, while on a fishing holiday.