Madison Dolby interviewed by Jenny Hill

Interview with Madison Dolby recorded by Jenny Hill on 15 April 2026 at Croft House, Sheffield. Duration: 55 minutes 47 seconds. [Start of interview] Railway family, grandfather working for London Midland and Scottish Railway [LMS], childhood visits to railway sheds, preserved railways and museums. University; work for British Railways Midland Main Line [MML] in Sheffield in the late 1990s-early 2000s; leaving railway industry, starting own business, returning to railways through travel, acquiring historic rolling stock, and volunteering driving and firing steam locomotives. [00:04:34] impact of privatisation on MML work environment, computerisation and agency staff; call centre work at Milton House selling specialist and contract tickets for other train operators; rail network knowledge, autism and autistic traits, older British Rail women colleagues and a camp colleague. Experiences of trying to fit into workplaces while presenting male, difficulty with male-dominated environments, more accepting atmosphere at MML, queer experience in early 1990s jobs, bullying, hazing, imposter syndrome while closeted, call handling pressures and customer service, including Advanced Passenger Train [APT] and Railway Technical Centre [RTC] anecdote. [00:15:15] Gender and railways, views on being a transgender worker, New Labour and age of consent; childhood interest in machines and engines, barriers to becoming a train driver due to eyesight, work in the motor trade and starting a garage business; Covid-19, railway changes, heritage railways, preservation, public interaction and narrow-gauge railways. [00:20:16] Joining narrow gauge societies, buying railway equipment, volunteering at Ashover Light Railway Society and Peak Rail; heritage rail demographics, white male dominance, transphobic behaviour, fear of being outed, and leaving an unwelcoming society. Travel to South Africa after Covid-19 [post-2020] to buy historic railway equipment at Sandstone Estate, Orange Free State; coming out during visits, positive reception from chief engineer Gert, and purchase of wagons and diesel locomotive. [00:28:37] Acquiring General Electric 91 class diesel-electric locomotive and carriage NG29, built for Natal Government Railways [SA] and in 1910 at Craven’s, Sheffield; restoration work, involvement with Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways [F&WHR], and navigating heritage railways as an older trans woman, including transition, changing perceptions, second adolescence, expensive equipment and competence. [00:31:50] Transition, self-image, gender euphoria, femininity, misogynistic assumptions at F&WHR, owning the largest collection of working narrow-gauge Baldwin steam locomotives, becoming perceived as female, community acceptance, National Railway Museum’s Flying Scotsman restoration context, reputation and competence. [00:38:14] Time in Wales, meeting queer and diverse railway people, gay men and transgender women, LGBTQIA+ people, lifelong friendships through railways, Talyllyn Railway youth outreach and queer acceptance, right-wing politics, safe spaces, and a transgender friend in Direct Rail Services. Coming out fears and positive realities; Welsh Christmas “Cold Turkey Special” events and travelling at Beddgelert with partner and other transgender women. [00:46:00] Volunteering as a 'fireman' at Bala Lake Railway, staying at rural stations, building skills, Quarry Hunslet locomotives, Leeds carriages from the 1800s, dangerous quarry work, skilled labour and “Victorian injuries” including burns from Winifred. [00:50:40] Public interaction after transitioning, avoiding deadnaming, fears around public perception as a trans woman, public toilets and politics, management raising which toilet she would use, “manly” hobbies, parents encouraging daughters to work with trains after seeing her, representation, internalised shame, imposter syndrome, fear of being worth less, and joyful volunteering. [end of interview]

This interview was made as part of People Pride and Progress (PPP) project. The project was initiated in 2023 to record the stories and memories of the LGBTQIA+ community in a new oral history archive over two years. It aimed to connect past, present and future through intergenerational interviews, offering opportunities for colleagues across all parts of the rail industry to connect, reflect on and learn from each other’s lived experiences while creating an archive of oral history interviews.