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Interview with Simon Shepherd recorded by Polly McGillivray on 15th October 2024 at the Worthing Training Centre Depot, Worthing. Duration: 35min 17secs. Introduction, current job; born in South London, childhood, mixed ethnic background family, many siblings, Jamaican father, British mother; 1970s, experiences of homophobia and racism as a child in London, colour bar and segregation; examples of racist abuse, racism within black community, being protected by mother; [00:04:00] powerful Black activists figures; how not identifying to gay icons and stereotypes delayed coming out as gay in his 20s; commenting on LGBTQIA+ representation in the media; confronting homophobia in his family; [00:07:50] getting married, choosing marriage over civil partnership, what getting married meant for him; first Pride in Clapham Common, red balloons for people who died of AIDS; importance of LGBTQ+ rights activism; [00:09:45] first job, joining the railways, Railway Trainee Scheme (RTS) at 16 yo, different roles for 2 years, Network SouthEast; left railway and came back in 1990, fitter at Wimbeldon Park Depot, dirty work, colleagues’ behaviour and comments in communal showers, presenting as butch (very masculine) whilst questioning his own sexuality; how he identifies, how he feels in relation to LGBTQ+ community; communal showers at railway depots; shunter role at London Bridge, shunting activities; working up the grades, listing roles and grades, station control point, station announcer, duty station manager, filling up secondment/interim position but not being given permanent promotion; leaving station management roles to become a driver; [00:15:18] 1999, train driver; pay as a driver; homophobia, how other drivers acted towards him as a gay man, abuses, offensive graffiti in his cab, a friend being bullied, manager being clueless how to help; first Pride train 2004-2005, homophobic reactions and comments from colleagues, change to relationships with people finding out he is gay, coming out on Pride train 2004-2005; hiding being gay, Charing Cross’s ‘pink brigade’ secret meetings in LGBTQ+ bars, abuse when LGBTQ+ people came out or were outed, some supportive reaction when he came out; [00:19:25] secret safe LGBTQ+ spaces, the ‘pink brigade’ secret LGBTQ+ community, word-of-mouth on third carriage of a train being safe, secret clubs in Cornwall and Blackpool, getting together, sense of community, importance of knowing of like-minded people; how and when he realised he was gay, being confused about his sexuality; [00:23:30] first Pride train 2004, class 319, Brighton-Clapham Junction, positive reception, press coverage, LGBTQ+ crew on-board, Pride train then, journey experience on Pride train, balloons and champagne; [00:25:40] career progression from being a driver, not getting promotions because of being gay; first managing role in 2011, Driver Manager; 2012 changes to Driver Manager and Competency Development Manager (CDM) roles and drivers recruitment, diversity, open to change, resistance to change in some areas; CDM role; [00:28:45] reflecting on how LGBTQIA+ community perception and experience has changed during his career, comparing with Black Lives Matters, displays of tolerance but homophobia and racism still present, people behaviours, examples; his personal views on how social media impact on LGBTQ+ people representation, lack of diversity in gay or LGBTQ+ representations in popular form of entertainment/sports; [00:31:20] being considered a role-model by others, being the first openly gay CDM, unfairness of having to fight to get promotions, having to disclose being sexuality or gender identity; personal views on railway industry and LGBTQIA+ community inclusion, on People Pride and Progress oral history project; having knowledge of bullying and abuses suffered by LGBTQ+ people within the railway industry; final message to people listening interview, importance of being true to oneself, being ‘Born this way’ [end]

Simon Shepherd interviewed by Polly McGillivray

2024-10-15
Interview with Daniel Richards recorded by Polly McGillivray on 15th October 2025 at the Worthing Station Training Centre. Duration: 48min 59secs. Introduction; childhood in Cornwall, school, leaving before A-levels, first job, customer service, work at Marks and Spencer’s (M&S); being a young gay man in Cornwall, gay club in Penzance in someone’s home; feeling the need to leave Cornwall, move to work to M&S foodhall in London; [00:05:50] move to North London, family support in London, finding own accommodation, flat share; 1996, social life at 18 yo, going out with housemates, clubbing, G-A-Y gay night club at the London Astoria; the Millenium, 2000, feeling need to return home in Cornwall, resigning from M&S in London, support from former manager, offered job at M&S in Cornwall; 6 month in Cornwall, feeling need to move, how Cornwall had changed whilst he lived in London, gay night club, gay people, LGBTQIA+ community, labour club, Cornish Mafia bouncers, feeling safe; meeting first boyfriend; gay clubs feeling safer than straight clubs, comparing music played at either; [00:12:25] feeling safe but bored in Cornwall, childhood, school, being gay and coming out to friends, coming out to his mother, family; how he felt about Cornwall lifestyle, liking busy city life; [00:15:50] where his confidence comes from, previous work experiences airlines, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, breakup and relationship with ex-partner, helped with interview for new job; 2000-2008 airline steward/cabin crew roles and progression at Virgin Atlantic; why he left airline job, being away from home a lot; homophobia; [00:20:10] how he became a train driver, considering pay, wanting a role with less social interactions than previous roles, no opportunities on Virgin Trains; trainee train driver, Southern Railway, Brighton; assessment process, physics exam, being given feedback; [00:25:50] living in Brighton since 2004, comparing with when he lived near aviation site; accommodation in Brighton, sense of belonging in Brighton, train driver job limiting ability to move, plans to move to Cornwall when retired, limited train driver job opportunities in Cornwall; [00:29:00] 18-years career on the railway; comparing railways and airlines work culture and ethics, more disciplined on railways; training as a driver, his driving instructor, how he felt as a gay person, being okay with banter when reciprocal, colleagues at Brighton depot; microaggression, how he felt when an unfamiliar colleague made an abusive comment in front of a new trainee when he was a driving instructor; [00:35:10] Brighton depot, being openly gay at work, LGBTQIA+ community there, how banter has changed, reflecting on his own words/use of language, worrying of offending, struggling with some changes in contemporary culture and discussing it with his daughter; his two children, relationship with his children and extended family, his children’s jobs not on the railways; [00:39:35] how he feels about working on the railways, what he loves about it, how it fits his lifestyle, working shifts, missing work when being on leave, advocating for railways, convincing friends to work on the railways, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) culture and depot; driver for 6 years, driving instructor (DI) for 10 years; profile of trainee drivers, not only people in early career; what he loves about being a DI, meeting new people, seeing trainees’ progression, training over 5 months, missing his partner; friendship with former trainees [00:44:05] challenging some trainees on how they used the word ‘gay’, making them aware it can be offensive; reflecting on his railway career, being openly gay, feeling privileged, hoping to be seen as someone others can confide in, being confident, where his confidence comes from, relationship with family; LGBTQIA+ community, importance to recognize what previous generations did, still facing challenges [00:49:00] [end of interview]

Daniel Richards interviewed by Polly McGillivray

2024-10-15
Interview with Gemma Burgess recorded by Esker Saward on 31st March 2025 at the interviewee's home in London. Duration: 1hr 40min 01secs. Childhood, Luton, education, career prospects; studying aerospace engineering at Surrey University, 2008, challenges; reflecting on time at university; 2011, questioning and realising own identity; how she realised she was transgender and how she felt, June 2012, period of significant change, from university to workplace, job interview, support from friend on online gaming platform; [00:18:50] start first job, oil and gas industry, how she felt, impact of realising she was trans, impact of being neurodivergent on office work experience, performance; temporary jobs at university, not being openly trans, meeting a transition buddy; being unemployed, experience at job centre, spring 2013, application and interview for Network Rail graduate scheme, personal interest in railways, confidence at interview; Track and Train scheme by Network Rail, details of graduate scheme, placements in Train Operation Companies (TOCs), Freight Operating Companies (FOCs), Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB), Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) and Office of Rail Regulation (ORR); Network Rail Westwood Training Centre, Coventry, corporate training; personal health and safety considerations; first placement, suicide prevention, working with Fatality Mitigation Manager; [00:30:25] not being out as trans at start of graduate scheme, feeling positive in Network Rail environment, comparing inclusivity in railway industry and private sector; how she found out about Archway LGBTQIA+ support network attending early meetings; coming out as trans to line manager, support; 2012, mental health, referral for transitioning; June 2014, coming out at work, starting transition, name change; second placement, performance office, support at start of transition; process of transitioning gender at work, colleagues/team briefed by line managers, updating IT, issues getting new ID card, support from Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Network Rail; no policies for gender transition then, supportive environment; [00:45:24] graduate scheme placement, performance, measurement of delays, why team call performance ‘the magical railway money’; train performance issues, example; anecdote, report on gapped Class 54 at Clapham Junction; other things she worked on; [00:52:23] third placement with Track Maintenance Engineer (TME) in Woking, data input, office based; interest in operational work; April 2015, end of 18-months graduate scheme, applying for jobs internally within Network Rail; reflecting on first years of her transition, physical wellbeing and health, job hunting; successful interview at Network Rail Head Office London, Project Manager role, planning and finance, how different it was to previous experiences; 2015, impact of Great Western Electrification project going over budget, enhancement projects cancelled; relationship with colleagues, politics, 2015 elections, Brexit, wellbeing and mental health; [01:11:10] new role, Freight Documentation at Network Rail, Head Office, relationship with colleagues; attending early Archway meetings; being neurodivergent, challenges at work; freight documentation role, what she does and what she likes about it; experiences being misgendered; [01:26:30] reflection on career; 2016-2020 focussed on work, 2020, Covid-19 pandemic impact on her work and life, adapting to work from home, restrictions and living conditions during lockdowns; hybrid working (2025), reassessing her life/work balance; what motivates her in her job; her personal view on how Archway started, LGBTQIA+ diversity within Archway in 2015 compared to post-Covid 2022-2023; reflecting on doing the oral history interview, feeling lucky that she hasn’t encountered a lot of adversity in her life and work [end of interview]

Gemma Burgess interviewed by Esker Saward

2025-03-31
Interview with Stuart Meek recorded by Polly McGillivray on 25th October 2024. Duration: 1hr 24min 50secs. Childhood, family; education, school, small town; career prospects, GCSEs, vocational A level, supportive teachers; social life, choosing universities; [00:08:20] Loughborough University, Transport and railways, challenges, working hard, masculine environment; industry placement, work discipline; [00:13:40] 2006, PhD in transport economics, meeting partner, coming out to family, student union jobs, personal life kept private; PhD in 2½ years, his work discipline [00:15:20] post-PhD, Transport For London (TfL) graduate scheme; 2009, first job at TfL; Leicester to London move; first day at London Underground headquarters, commuting [00:16:20] PhD on interchange, Park and Ride schemes, impact on his railway job, communication skills in leadership [00:21:40] work at TfL, placements, operations at London Underground (LU), people and work culture, work as Operations Manager to Chief Operating Officer (Howard Collins); progressing to senior role running LU Network Operations Centre, Centurion Grade managers [00:26:20] LU Network Operations Centre, colleagues; not involved in LGBTQIA+ community; work culture, vision of diversity then, not LGBTQIA+, ethnicity, BAME communities, accessibility; transphobic abuse; [00:32:30] 2013, personal life, family, adopting child impact on being openly gay at work; changes at LU and TfL in operations and culture; prioritising family, adoption leave, colleagues reactions; headhunted by railway companies, responsibilities at TfL, move to Southern Railway TOC (Train Operating Company); Head of Control at Southern Railway, challenges, Three Bridges Rail Operating Centre (ROC), culture compared to TfL [00:36:20] Go-Ahead Group, South Central franchise, bid for Govia Thameslink Rail (GTR); General Manager, working with COO Dyan Crowther, GTR bid structure, sub-franchises, roles and responsibilities, being part of directors team, diversity; timeline Go-Ahead winning GTR contract, merger with South Central franchise [00:42:00] start of GTR, impact of Southern Driver-Only Operation (DOO) dispute, change in GTR, working with Angie Doll Managing Director of Southern/Gatwick Express as General Manager of Operations, DOO dispute, strikes, poor level of service, impact on passengers; setting LGBTQIA+ group, responsibility to support colleagues; [00:47:00] beginning of LGBTQIA+ support group; trainbow, Pride flag wrapping on train, new class 700; LGBTQIA+ group impact; leaders responsibilities towards their community; [00:53:30] team achievements at Southern; Business Development at Go-Ahead, international operations; final months as Train Services Director GTR, personal life, family grief, support at work; summer 2019, event management Brighton Pride, milestone GTR float at Pride; [00:58:00] September 2019, Go-Ahead, commute to Germany, work culture; 2020 covid-19 pandemic, remote work; covid impact on business development in railways; summer 2021 Thameslink Great Northern Passenger Service Director in GTR, changes; 2016 MBA sponsored by GTR, diversity in other industries, celebrating diversity, LGBTQIA+ heritage, bringing new perspectives; [01:05:30] LGBTQIA+ and BAME communities representation at South Western Railways (SWR); diversity beyond LGBTQIA+, “All Aboard” campaign National Inclusion Week 2023, everyone welcomed on SWR trains; LGBTQIA+ people and public transport; lack of support within LGBTQIA+ community, intersectionality, language for inclusivity [01:11:00] “All Aboard” campaign; employee engagement survey; Vauxhall station adopted by SWR Pride Network and LGBT HERO charity October 2024; [01:16:40] inclusivity in the railway industry; celebrating diversity; having a positive impact on all colleagues; loneliness of leadership in a large organisation, trusting he does the right thing; how contemporary society has changed, role of railways in society [end of interview]

Stuart Meek interviewed by Polly Gillivray

2024-10-25
Interview with Joe Brown recorded by Scott Heath on 8th July 2024 at the Transport for London Office. Duration: 1hr 35min 47secs. Childhood, living near District Line, London; education; parents, mother’s health and death, father’s remarriage; [00:03:37] gender identity, identifying as gay at age 12; seeking friends with magazine’s lonely hearts ads, meeting people, discovering London gay scene; [00:09:00] bullying at gender segregated school, change to gender diverse in Sixth Form, making friends; relationship with his father, coming out to family; his husband; [00:13:00] education choices, A-levels, university; diversity at school versus university; [00:16:00] working on the London gay scene in the mid-1990s, [00:20:00] HIV-positive people and AIDS then; [00:22:00] 1997, joining London Underground (Transport for London, TfL, since 2000), guard role vacancy poster, recruitment process; work as guard on Northern Line, East Finchley, last trains with guards; [00:26:30] personal commute to work, working hours, shifts; work as a guard, interacting with passengers; driver training on 1959 stock, Ashfield house Training Center, qualification exam; East Finchley, guard/motorman role; mess room in late 1990s, not an inclusive environment; requesting transfer to Parsons Green known as ‘The Pink Depot’; mess room at East Finchley, how people behaved; [00:35:24] how driver and guard worked in pairs, ‘mafia’ system for drivers to swap shifts; doing shifts with different drivers every day, difficulties being open in small talk, thinking carefully about whether to disclose being gay or not, no visibility of LGBTQ+ colleagues then; [00:39:25] experience at Parsons Green (‘The Pink Depot’), roles of Julian Hows and Dave Hirst (first openly gay driver in 1970s) in establishing ‘The Pink Depot’, safe space for LGBTQ+ people, comparison with other lines; [00:44:40] Parsons Green’s demographic, allies, gender balance at different depots, social environment; routine as a driver, work-life balance, friendships; becoming a Trains manager, Earls Court; [00:51:25] anecdote with straight male colleague wearing proposed new female uniform, ambiance at depot; importance of LGBTQ+ representation in Union; reflecting on 1980s unemployability of open LGBTQ+ people, London Underground seeking workers; difference with now (2024), change in numbers of LGBTQIA+ people at TfL; [00:57:00] Parsons Green, reactions to environment; silo mentality within a depot, no wider community network; [00:59:55] 2007, Trains Operations Manager at Elephant and Castle (Bakerloo Line), comparing environments, LGBTQ+ representation; women and lesbians on TfL; further change of roles; 2005, creation of OUTbound, how it was perceived, divide between head office and operational roles, unofficial network at line levels; [01:05:20] experience at Wembley Park as Trains Manager, larger depot, 2012 London Olympics, LGBTQ+ representation; general societal changes observed during his career, reflecting on gay/LGBTQ+ culture since 1990s; [01:10:10] meeting his husband, marriage in 2006, being open about his relationship in the workplace, why he occasionally avoids disclosing being gay; [01:15:05] new role, Executive Officer as covid-19 pandemic and lockdown began, operational challenges bringing back services and managing staff; changes and pause to OUTbound network during covid, remote events, impact of furlough leave; office work experience during and after pandemic; husband’s operational role during pandemic; personal impact of covid; [01:21:50] new role of Strategic Delivery and Change Manager, supporting colleagues; chairing OUTbound, making changes, BFI Flare Festival, increasing diversity and accessibility; project planning London Pride 2023; collaborating with other network groups; [01:28:10] LGBTQ+ vinyl wrapping TfL bus and trains, other Pride activities [01:32:30] reflecting how LGBTQ+ inclusion has changed at TfL [end of interview]

Joe Brown interviewed by Scott Heath

2024-07-08
Interview with Stephen Jenkins recorded by Robert Morgan on 20th March 2024 at Exeter Library. Duration: 52 minutes 40 secs. Joined railway 1973, education, boarding school, studying modern languages at university in Oxford, career prospects; knowing he was gay from a young age, sex education at school then; not being out as gay at university; early 1970s changes in society, Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE) impact, questioning his own sexuality and coming out, feeling of not fitting in with people openly gay at university; [00:05:05] career considerations, interest in industry, interest in transport and railways; traffic management training scheme with British Rail (BR), South Wales, his impressions at start of training, cultural shock, experienced railway staff there, feeling isolated as a gay man, no knowledge of other LGBTQIA+ people; coming out attempts, experience going to gay pub for first time in Cardiff; [00:11:05] shift supervisor role at Severn Tunnel Junction, dealing with male employee known to chase young male employees; Total Operations Processing System (TOPS), yard supervisor role and TOPS officers, work culture then, pranking and goofing around; how he felt about being asked out by colleague; [00:16:30] work at Head Office, doing masters at university funded by BR; exploring his sexuality and coming out when doing masters at university, discovering LGBTQIA+ community, surprised when meeting someone from BR at gay pub for the first time, how different it felt then (1970s-early 1980s) compared to now (2024); occasionally met LGBTQIA+ people working in railway industry, gradually realising there were more LGBTQIA+ people in railways than he thought; Railtrack, early 1990s, assumptions and gossips about a manager being gay, anecdote how he came out to his line manager, hierarchical relationship with line manager, how he feels about talking about his sexuality; [00:24:00] applying for job at Railtrack in Swindon, wanted to be open about his sexuality, being chairman of lesbian and gay switchboard for 5 years, sexuality not made a topic at work/when hired; anecdote, hearing people gossiping about him; used to keep quiet about his sexuality, changed in late 1990s, how things feel different now with visibility of LGBTQIA+ people; [00:28:10] impact of 1980s HIV/AIDS crisis, more discreet about his sexuality; lack of knowledge how HIV was caught, ticket collectors worried they could catch it from tickets; microagression, when he was off work with flu and people thought he had AIDS, lack of support at work then; Severn Tunnel Junction job, anecdote, colleagues’ prank with fax machine; when his boss tried to find out if he was gay, unofficial support; not coming out at work, how he dealt with gossip, reflecting on having kept part of his identity secret throughout his railway career; [00:37:00] Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in workplace now, employers embracing people’s identities, being able to bring whole self to wok; how it felt for him not being fully himself at work, impact on confidence and ambition, not wanting to be in high profile position; how railway felt a safe workplace to him as a gay man, but may have felt different to others; [00:44:30] how railway industry has changed for LGBTQIA+ community, rail employers at pride events, employers supporting employees; how BR supported well its employees when straight, married with kids; advice he would give to LGBTQIA+ person joining railways now, not to be put off from joining railway industry, support, be yourself and do not hide your sexuality; what his dad said about work when he came out; generational differences in acceptance of LGBTQIA+; reflecting, used to think senior management was always made of straight people, impact of knowing that senior staff could be gay [00:52:40] [end of interview]

Stephen Jenkins interviewed by Robert Morgan

2024-03-20
Interview with Liz Lumber recorded by Ashlynn Hudson-Welburn on 9th September 2024 at the National Railway Museum, York. Duration: 2hr 5min 3secs. Childhood 1960s, family, education, school; unemployment mid 1980s; early career, casino, trying for armed forces, work for Metropolitan Police, fitness industry; joining the railways, railway career evolution; [00:07:08]; challenges in childhood, boarding school, changes in her family, working to help parents, her interests then [end of track 01] [track 02] education, hard times at school, friendships; working with parents after school; work at the casino; joining the police, 1988-1993; living with her first girlfriend; her sexuality, coming out to family, supportive parents; first girlfriend, her life then; HIV/AIDS crisis impact on public perception of same-sex relationships, keeping her sexuality private from work; 1984-85, LGBTQIA+ scene in Portsmouth, feeling part of the community [00:20:52]; police force 1988-1993, double life, hiding sexuality/relationship at work, homophobia in police, male dominated environment; work in fitness industry, private life separate from work; how double life impacted her, microaggressions, LGBTQIA+ people not accepted; meeting new partner, coming out to a few at work; reasons for joining the railways, 2000, trainee train driver, Brighton; driver training school, challenges as female in male dominated environment, practical handling; few female trainees; choosing Brighton depot, social life, sports, healthy lifestyle; relationship with her partner then, hiding sexuality at work, coming out to a few at work, homophobic abuse of male gay colleagues; feeling a shift in acceptance of LGBTQIA+ people [end of track 02] [track 03] Brighton depot, how it suited her not to be out as gay, how her feelings about that changed; offensive comment written in cab; 2005, driver manager role; romantic relationships impact on her confidence in own identity, not caring about other people opinions; denial of LGBTQIA+ identity in older generations; driver manager role, locomotives driven, drivers training, her motivation to take on manager role, work/life balance; [00:16:20] 2010, competence assessment team leader, Southern Railway, professional development, degree in Railway Operations, changing roles every 5 years to avoid boredom; Operational Standards Manager at Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), Head Office, GTR structure; 2019, change in workplace culture and society in acceptance of LGBTQIA+ people, open about sexuality, how it felt before, glass ceiling; growing up without lesbian role models, when she realised she was gay, book ‘The Well of Loneliness’ influence; current and ex partners [end of track 03] [track 04] Meeting partner, meeting other lesbians through golf, sports; Railway Operational Standards role at GTR; family life, paternity leave from work, impact of flexible working; changes at work as a LGBTQIA+ person; 2022, Alstom, supportive workplace culture; lack of women in strategic operations [00:11:15] early career challenges as female train driver, night work, last train, facilities/equipment made for men; being driven by challenges, her role at Alstom, personal development opportunities, responsible for competence assessment of all Alstom UK staff; comparison with previous work environment; how challenging it is being female in operations, glass ceiling; challenges getting women and new people to join the industry; achievements within career, plans for coming years; work/life balance, pioneering flexible working from home pre-Covid-19 pandemic, post pandemic hybrid work, remote teams; occasionally driving rail tour trains for Hanson and Hall [end of track 04] [track 05] Life in the 1980s during the AIDS crisis, how LGBTQIA+ community was perceived by public opinion and government; anti-section 28 demonstrations; support within LGBTQIA+ community then; support from her own family [end of track 05]

Liz Lumber interviewed by Ashlynn Hudson-Welburn

2024-09-09
Interview with Alexandre Abbuehl recorded by Fiona Slater on 13 February 2026 in Birmingham. Duration: 2 hr 27 min 37 secs.

Alexandre Abbuehl interviewed by Fiona Slater

2026-02-13
Interview with Adam Baldwin recorded by Ashlynn Hudson-Welburn on 1st August 2024 at the National Railway Museum, York. Duration: 2hr 21min 12secs. [Track 01] Introduction; father’s railway jobs, railways in childhood; being gay in 1980s, school bullying, rail commute; parents influence joining railways, 1987, Canterbury Telephone Enquiry Bureau; Great storm of 1987; [00:05:50] denial of own sexual identity, HIV and AIDS crisis; Gillingham Ticket Office 1988-1990; [00:07:15] 1990-1997, International Rail Centre (IRC) London Victoria, training, gay and HIV positive colleague; HIV and AIDS awareness, stigmatisation and ignorance; HIV positive colleague, mentor; [00:13:25] IRC, coming out story, supportive colleagues; [00:18:20] last railway job, British Travel Centre (BTC) Lower Regent street, ticket office, LGBTQ+ colleagues; asserting gay identity 1990s; own gay identity connected to work on railways; [00:21:40] railway in family, relationship with parents; childhood, gender segregated school, train commute, friendships, bullying; [00:29:00] family pressure to work, how he was at 16 yo; relationship with parents, coming out; [00:33:15] friendships, colleagues; moving to York from London; [00:37:16] job at Canterbury, his father’s role, colleagues; his behaviour at 16, denial own identity, putting on a mask/persona; training at Canterbury; [00:45:44] jobs with British Railways (BR); Gillingham, social life, office ambiance, APTIS ticket machine; [00:50:04] IRC recruitment, training; moving to Colchester, purchasing flat, railway worker commuting benefits; why chose IRC job, London entertainment; [00:55:12] social life before coming out, girlfriend; day outing with colleagues to Dunkirk, ferry [00:59:35] denial being gay, commenting how common it can be; [01:01:40] impact of identity/sexuality on experiences/opinions; how he was after coming out; [01:03:10] first days at IRC, socialising; boat trains; shift work, commuting; friendships, diversity, LGBTQ+ colleagues; [01:08:37] IRC, HIV positive friend/colleague, his death; [01:12:45] 1990s HIV and AIDS crisis, comparing current perception of HIV; [01:16:35] how he was before coming out, IRC colleagues impact on how he changed; [01:19:10] coming out story, admitting to himself he was gay, supportive friends; [01:25:11] IRC isolated from other BR department; Boeing 929 Jetfoil and Hoverspeed Sealink; [01:27:50] BTC colleagues, LGBTQ+ community; [01:29:45] after coming out, life in London as an openly gay man, anecdotes; LGBTQ+ newspapers; [01:34:01] pink pound, adverts targeting gay men, places/services dedicated to LGBTQ+; [01:36:14] relationships after coming out, dating colleagues; LGBTQ+ colleagues, diversity; work shifts, colleagues in relationship, supportive environment; [01:41:20] LGBTQ+ experience depend on jobs, traditional masculinity in operational roles; [01:42:15] shift work impact on relationships; socialising, work outings; [01:50:46] first break-up, colleagues support; [01:52:10] 1997 leaving BR, privatisation, redundancies, official dinner; work social events; [01:55:20] privatisation impact, closure of BTC and IRC; Eurostar; railway vacancies following privatisation; [01:58:44] travel agency work; retail work; move to York 2003, varied career experience, railway experience impact on career in customer service; [02:03:17] being loaned from IRC to BTC; InterRail [end of track 01] [Track 02] 1992 HIV Awareness Year, InterRail poster, complaints, reasons for rejecting part of campaign; [00:03:23] links between IRC and BTC, contacts with former colleagues; how he changed during 10-year BR career, feelings about leaving, jobs since; [00:06:04] Free travel with BR, free railway pass, European rail pass; short trips to Europe; Eurostar test train, Paris day-trip; [00:10:10] fun memories at IRC; tickets sold at IRC, ledgers used for tickets not on system, handwriting tickets; [00:12:30] final reflections on job and people at IRC [end of interview]

Adam Baldwin interviewed by Ashlynn Hudson-Welburn

2024-08-01
Interview with Ife Akande recorded by Rachel Norman on 13 February 2026. Duration: 1 hr 27 min 30 secs.

Ife Akande interviewed by Rachel Norman

2026-02-13
Interview with Madison Dolby recorded by Jenny Hill on 15 April 2026, at Croft House, Sheffield. Duration: 55 mins 47 secs.

Madison Dolby interviewed by Jenny Hill

2026-04-15
Interview with Ron Whalley conducted by Matt Smith on 15th April 2024, at a charity office in Crewe. 1hr 15min 30secs.

Ron Whalley interviewed by Matt Smith

2024-04-15
Interview with Craig McNally conducted by Ashlynn Hudson-Welburn on 19th September 2024 at the National Railway Museum, York. 2hr 6min 51secs.

Craig McNally interviewed by Ashlynn Hudson-Welburn (session 2 of 2)

2024-09-19
Interview with Scott Heath recorded by Alexandre Abbuehl on 11 February 2026, at the Hitachi offices in Birmingham. Duration: 1 hr 58 min 3 secs.

Scott Heath interviewed by Alexandre Abbuehl

2026-02-11
Interview with Reesha Dyer-Evans, conducted and recorded by Christopher Nairne on 19 May 2025 at Aylesbury Library. Duration: 2 hr 32 min 37 secs.

Reesha Dyer-Evans interviewed by Christopher Nairne

2025-05-19
Interview with Emily-Jane Sanders recorded by Ashlynn Hudson-Welburn on 7th April 2025 at the National Railway Museum, York. Duration: 1hr 59min 32secs. Family background, parents, between England and Czech Republic, comparing schools, education systems and languages; being neurodiverse, impact on education [00:15:00] social life and friendships at school; relationships with her parents; neurodiversity and passion for transports, joining the Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAF Air Cadets); accepting neurodivergence; experience in RAF Air Cadets, flying experiences; impact of meeting someone who identified as gender fluid; first coming out as LGBTQIA+; [00:32:30] vocational school, aviation operations, considering role of airport dispatcher; unemployment then work in call centre; coming out as trans, reality of living as trans and discovering herself; coming out at work; call centre environment; issues with name change on email signature, importance of knowing employees’ rights and trade union support; working and living in Newcastle, what work is like in call centres; what led to working in railway call centre for LNER, how call centre work can be challenging for mental health; railway call centre experience, handling calls from angry customers, example; hobbies, railway modelling and video games, job with video game developer; [00:52:00] covid pandemic, work as Universal Credit case manager; work for Lumo, Open Access Operator, Newcastle; her father’s death; ambassador role at Lumo, on-board customer service role; typical day as Lumo ambassador; working with a face-mask during covid pandemic, how it helped her with gender dysphoria, mental health; joining LNER, end of travel restriction post covid pandemic; evolution within LNER, from call centre customer service role to host on-board train, comparing trainings; how LNER manages call centres and customer services, LNER Customer Solution Centre, examples of customer enquiries; what it is like as a trans person working in a call centre, challenges; handling difficult calls and angry customers, example calls after strike announcements by trade union; LNER work culture, relationships with colleagues, feeling included [01:14:19] applying to on-board roles, interview process and questions; comparing training for call centre role and on-board role, shadowing on-board train staff, other roles on-board; trainees cohort, internal and external recruits; dealing with inappropriate questions, unpleasant people, inappropriate behaviours; supportive colleagues, many colleagues part of the LGBTQIA+ community, demographics and ages amongst colleagues; being on the spare roster for on-board role, how it works; meritocracy in the railway industry; current role, on-board customer experience host, career progression ambitions, progressing to train manager role, interest in operational responsibilities; customer experience host role, catering, dealing with passengers on-board, being compassionate, example of challenging situation: delayed train impact on a passenger; [01:39:20] origins of her interest in operational railways, plane and train travels to Czech Republic in childhood, interest in railways in childhood; relationship with colleagues at LNER; best experiences working at LNER, taking part in London Pride parade, first time working on Intercity 225/Mark 4 and not being the only trans worker on-board; LNER LGBTQIA+ colleague network, involvement when she worked at call centre, less interactions with network since working on board; how the network has helped her; changes in Diversity and Inclusion management at LNER, Together network (LNER LGBTQIA+ colleague network), how Pride events are organised; London Pride and York Pride; reflecting on how her younger self would be proud of what she has achieved; social life and friendships; hobbies, video games, train simulation, role play, cosplaying; socialising with work colleagues, anecdote [end of interview]

Emily-Jane Sanders interviewed by Ashlynn Hudson-Welburn

2025-04-07
Interview with Andrew Lambert conducted by Christopher Nairne on 13th March 2025. 2hr 41min 16secs.

Andrew Lambert interviewed by Christopher Nairne

2025-03-13
Interview with Rob Bullock recorded by Victor Cai on 18 October 2025, at the Dana Research Centre, Science Museum, London. Duration: 1 hour 19 min 25 secs.

Rob Bullock interviewed by Victor Cai

2025-10-18
Interview with Warren Scott recorded by Kosma Mrzyglod on 19 April 2026 at the Dana Research Centre and Library, Science Museum, London. Duration: 1 hr 1 min 20 secs. This interview follows a first interview recorded with Warren Scott on 12 February 2025.

Warren Scott interviewed by Kosma Mrzyglod

2026-04-19
Interview with Karen Bennett recorded by Claire Mayoh on 23 March 2026 at the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford. Duration: 2 hr 7 min 51 secs.

Karen Bennett interviewed by Claire Mayoh

2026-03-23
Group discussion with Journey network members, discussion led and recorded by Scott Foster on 27 March 2026, at the National Railway Museum. A group of members of Journey (network for LGBTQ+ professionals working in transport), participated to a day at the National Railway Museum to find out about People, Pride and Progress oral history project and have a LGBTQIA+ history led tour of the museum. Divided into smaller groups, participants were invited to listen to and discuss a selection of extracts of oral history interviews recorded as part of People, Pride and Progress, with railway workers sharing their experience on the railways as members of the LGBTQIA+ community. The people taking part in this recorded discussion are Matt Smith (Principal Consultant, AtkinsRéalis), Joe Brown (Strategic Delivery & Change Manager, Transport for London; founder of Journey) and Jack Satterthwaite.

Group discussion, Journey network group 2

2026-03-27
Interview with Lisa Charlwood-Green recorded by Nat Palethorpe on 25 June 2025. Duration: 1 hour 22 min 18 secs.

Lisa Charlwood-Green interviewed by Nat Palethorpe

2025-06-25
Interview with Mark Beresford conducted by Nat Palethorpe on 15th November 2024 at the Vision Northumberland building, Morpeth. 2hr 50min 13secs.

Mark Beresford interviewed by Nat Palethorpe

2024-11-15
Interview with Julian Hows conducted by Scott Heath on 11th November 2024 at the Hitachi Rail Offices, London. 2hr 55min 57secs.

Julian Hows interviewed by Scott Heath

2024-11-11
Interview with Katie Eeles recorded by Roberto Martinez on 29th May 2024 at the National Railway Museum, York. Duration: 54min 34secs. Joining the railways, Network Southeast British Railways (BR), signaller role Watford, 1992, application, recruitment, signalling course Waterloo, training Stratford signal box; early career training, Bedford to Bletchley line, transfer to other signal boxes, Woburn Sands, Millbrook, East Midlands freight line, Kew East signal box, upgrade to Willesden High Level signal box, 1994 to 2009; [00:05:50] resignalling of line for London 2012 Olympics, moved from Willesden to vacancy at Cambridge, signaller team, shift work; 2016, coming out as transgender to colleagues, starting transition; coming out to her wife, knowing she was trans since childhood, challenges coming out, transitioning journey, mental health; [00:08:50] challenges for trans people to be openly trans; relationship with colleagues after coming out; issues, how management handled her transition, impact on her mental health, lack of support; incident leading to suspension, investigation and disciplinary hearing, being dismissed; appealing dismissal, bias, appeal case demonstrated same error made by a cisgender signaller was not sanctioned the same way; regained job, penalised by reduction in grade; jobs after appeal, medication impact on job allocation, transfer to Liverpool street offices, course, secondment Milton Keynes offices, capacity planning, freight traffic; redundancy, notice in November 2023, impact of ADHD; [00:17:20] coming out as transgender at work, management reaction; support, Inclusion and Diversity team, Archway staff network; LGBTQIA+ community at work, joining Archway, friendships, events; how operational jobs are isolated from rest of company, not knowing LGBTQIA+ colleagues before coming out in 2016 [00:23:10] comparing operational environment and office environment, operations being a male dominated environment, small changes, few women in operations, need more change; childhood, interest in hobbies seen as traditionally female, bored by traditionally male hobbies; Danny La Rue, drag entertainer on television, trying to talk about her own trans identity; [00:28:10] experience coming out outside of work, LGBTQIA+ community support for her then, transvestite group in Milton Keynes but not what she needed; transitioning took time, impact of starting medication, felt accepted and integrated, anecdote on commute to Liverpool street; how it felt to be gendered correctly by strangers for the first time; [00:32:40] personal experience with hormone therapy, medical process and support, anecdote with nurse taking blood, waiting list on public health; impact of transitioning, being herself, relationships with friends and family, anecdote about her name; [00:43:03] relationship with her wife, how they met, how she came out to her wife, support from her wife; learning about being transgender, impact of watching BBC television series ‘A Change of Sex’ with Julia Grant, looking out for tv programmes about gender transition; worrying about impact of gender reassignment surgery on relationship with wife, mental health; [00:45:57] hopes for the future, having retired, hobbies, motorsport, race marshal at Silverstone, joining Racing Pride for LGBT inclusivity in sports industry, Formula 1, recruiting more transgender marshals, making racing more inclusive, circuits being a safe place; advice for younger self, being yourself and being open [00:51:23] story of an incident at Peterborough Signal box, after she came out as trans, exposed to abusive and offensive behaviour, deadnaming, misgendering, using wrong pronouns, filling in a complaint/grievance against the person, how she hoped they would learn from incident and educate others; her views on how to educate people to inclusivity, importance of sharing personal stories, understanding people want to be themselves without a mask [end of interview]

Katie Eeles interviewed by Roberto Martinez Luis

2024-05-29
Interview with Darran Brown conducted by Matt Smith on 13th August 2024 at the Science and Industry Museum, Manchester. 0hr 48min 26secs.

Darran Brown interviewed by Matt Smith

2024-08-13
Group discussion with Journey network members, discussion led and recorded by Scott Foster on 27 March 2026, at the National Railway Museum. A group of members of Journey (network for LGBTQ+ professionals working in transport), participated to a day at the National Railway Museum to find out about People, Pride and Progress oral history project and have a LGBTQIA+ history led tour of the museum. Divided into smaller groups, participants were invited to listen to and discuss a selection of extracts of oral history interviews recorded as part of People, Pride and Progress, with railway workers sharing their experience on the railways as members of the LGBTQIA+ community. The people taking part in this recorded discussion are Nathan Wyllie (Train Driver, South Western Railway), Skye Haynes (Body Worn Video Engagement Coordinator at South Western Railway) and Weifeng Jiang (Transport Economist and Rail Operations Specialist, Atkins). Extract from Simon Shepherd interview: secret safe LGBTQ+ spaces, ‘pink brigade’, secret LGBTQ+ community, word-of-mouth on third carriage of a train being safe, secret clubs in Cornwall and Blackpool, participant discussions and reflections on coming out at work, workplace support, Pride networks and public attitudes, inclusion and employee morale; [00:08:27] playback of Craig McNally interview extract: GNER, National Express, East Coast, Virgin and LNER workplace cultures, franchise change, morale, customer service ethos, Pride participation; participants sharing own experiences at different companies; union representation, LGBTQIA+ advocacy and network, equality policies, comparing frontline and office environments; [00:21:46] playback of Craig McNally interview extract: perception of inclusivity within railway industry, railway industry reputation, positive experience overall; participants discussing LGBTQIA+ inclusivity in the railway industry, comparing London bubble and other regions, big cities vs more rural areas, comparing before and after covid pandemic, Southampton Pride, rainbow lanyards, Trans Day of Visibility, discrimination, support networks, visibility of LGBTQ+ staff and workplace culture; [00:32:20] Playback of Lisa Charlwood-Green interview extract: microaggressions; gossips, colleagues belief that EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) training was because of her; being treated differently by HR when placing her parental leave request, selective application of policy, no friends at work; questions from colleagues about how she had her children; discussions of privilege, labels imposed on people by society, how most EDI training are not suitable, online training unsuitability, important of meeting people in-person, giving opportunities for people to engage; discussing intersectionality, disability, race, religion, Black Pride, cultural identity, ADHD, autism, neurodiversity, Southampton Pride, mental health support, neurodiversity networks, peer support; [00:46:52] playback of Darran Brown interview extract: becoming a senior conductor, train crew culture, working with women and openly gay catering staff, macho atmosphere on the platforms, confidence whilst being around more LGBTQIA+ people at work; discussion, comparison between platform staff and on-board staff, workplace culture; belonging, workplace friendships, banter, customer interactions and authenticity; visibility and acceptance of LGBTQ+ identities; family background, upbringing, sexuality, neurodiversity, school experiences, generational attitudes and changes in society with regards to inclusivity; impact of COVID-19 on people in the LGBTQIA+ community, development of workplace community networks, Brighton Pride volunteering, being used to masking own identity and code-switching, authenticity, ability to be own authentic self in the workplace, reflections on progress and continuing challenges facing LGBTQ+ railway workers [end of interview]

Group discussion, Journey network group 1

2026-03-27
Interview with Haydon Walker conducted by Nat Palethorpe on 1st March 2025 at the National Railway Museum, York. 1hr 23min 16secs.

Haydon Walker interviewed by Nat Palethorpe

2025-03-01
Interview with Gavin Gerrard recorded by Esker Saward on 29 May 2026, at the Network Rail office at Waterloo station in London. Duration: 1 hr 55 min 16 secs.

Gavin Gerrard interviewed by Esker Saward

2026-05-29
Interview with Dr Karen Wightman recorded by Matt Smith on 17 November 2025, at the National Railway Museum, York. Duration: 1 hour 16 min 58 secs.

Dr Karen Wightman interviewed by Matt Smith

2025-11-17
Interview with Alex Fowles conducted by Laura Stoffers on 8th October 2024 at the National Railway Museum, York. 1hr 7min 46secs. Session 1 of 3.

Alex Fowles interviewed by Laura Stoffers

2024-10-08
Interview with James Taylor conducted by Laura Stoffers on 5th February 2025 at the National Railway Museum, York. 2hr 52min 49secs.

James Taylor interviewed by Laura Stoffers

2025-03-10
Interview with Clive Ryan conducted by Matthew Hayes on 20th September 2024 at the Science Museum, London. 1hr 02min 54secs.

Clive Ryan interviewed by Matthew Hayes (session 2 of 2)

2025-01-17
Interview with Craig McNally conducted by Ashlynn Hudson-Welburn on 4th September 2024 at the National Railway Museum, York. 1hr 26min 16secs.

Craig McNally interviewed by Ashlynn Hudson-Welburn (session 1 of 2)

2024-09-04
Interview with Ash Read recorded by Ashlyn Hudson-Welburn on 15 April 2026, at the National Railway Museum, York. Duration: 1 hr 51 min 59 secs.

Ash Read interviewed by Ashlynn Hudson-Welburn

2026-03-15
Interview with Ross Jones recorded by Prab Barange on 12 April 2025. Duration: 1 hour 16 min 31 secs.

Ross Jones interviewed by Prab Barange

2025-04-12
Interview with Peter Gracey recorded by Abs Taylor on 15 April 2026, at Saddlers House, London. Duration: 2 hr 27 mins 33 secs.

Peter Gracey interviewed by Abs Taylor

2026-04-15
Interview with Jim Gillies conducted by Ashlynn Hudson-Welburn on 4th March 2025 at the National Railway Museum, York. 1hr 17min 26secs.

Jim Gillies interviewed by Ashlynn Hudson-Welburn

2025-03-04
Interview with Romolo Lanzi conducted by J.K. Doran. 1hr 6min 36secs.

Romolo Lanzi interviewed by J.K. Doran

Interview with Mark Havenhand recorded by Scott Foster on 31 March 2026 at the Dana Centre, Science Museum, London. Duration: 57 min 53 secs.

Mark Havenhand interviewed by Scott Foster

2026-03-31
Interview with Lee Forster-Kirkham recorded by Scott Foster on 15 October 2025, at the Dana Research Centre, Science Museum, London. Duration: 1 hour 52 min 3 secs.

Lee Forster-Kirkham interviewed by Scott Foster

2025-10-15
Interview with Alex Fowles conducted by Laura Stoffers on 25th March 2025 at the National Railway Museum, York. 0hr 41min 41secs. Session 3 of 3.

Alex Fowles interviewed by Laura Stoffers (session 3 of 3)

2025-03-25
Interview with Babak Erfani recorded by Chris Nairne on 25 February 2026. Duration: 3 hr 54 min 59 secs.

Babak Erfani interviewed by Christopher Nairne

2026-02-25
Interview with James Goddard recorded by Fiona Slater on 13 March 2026. Duration: 1 hr 18 min 59 secs.

James Goddard interviewed by Fiona Slater

2026-03-13
Interview with Alan Martin conducted by Ash Read on 20th February 2025. 1hr 17min 26secs.

Alan Martin interviewed by Ash Read

2025-02-20
Interview with Carole Bardell-Wise recorded by Ash Read on 8 April 2026. Duration: 1 hr 48 min 18 secs.

Carole Bardell-Wise interviewd by Ash Read

2026-04-08
Interview with Jana Klemova conducted and recorded by Ash Read on 22 May 2025. Duration: 1 hr 21 min 21 secs.

Jana Klemova interviewed by Ash Read

2025-05-22
Group discussion with a group of Morgan Sindall (MS) employees, discussion led and recorded by Fiona Slater, on 5 February 2026, at the National Railway Museum. A group of MS employees, members of MSI Allies Network, participated to a day at the National Railway Museum to find out about People, Pride and Progress oral history project and have a LGBTQIA+ history led tour of the museum. Divided into smaller groups, participants were invited to listen to and discuss a selection of extracts of oral history interviews recorded as part of People, Pride and Progress, with railway workers sharing their experience on the railways as members of the LGBTQIA+ community. The Morgan Sindall employees taking part in this recorded discussion are James Goddard (Senior Quantity Surveyor – Rail), Seth Shepherd (Apprentice Project Controller) and Kirsty Bailey (Senior Information Manager).

Group discussion, Morgan Sindall group 2

2026-02-05
Group discussion with Journey network members, discussion led and recorded by Fiona Slater on 27 March 2026, at the National Railway Museum. A group of members of Journey (network for LGBTQ+ professionals working in transport), participated to a day at the National Railway Museum to find out about People, Pride and Progress oral history project and have a LGBTQIA+ history led tour of the museum. Divided into smaller groups, participants were invited to listen to and discuss a selection of extracts of oral history interviews recorded as part of People, Pride and Progress, with railway workers sharing their experience on the railways as members of the LGBTQIA+ community. The people taking part in this recorded discussion are Aaron Philips (Hitachi Rail), Pippa Armstrong (Alstom) and Alex Garnett-Scherer (Service Manager Bakerloo Line, London Underground).

Group discussion, Journey network group 3

2026-03-27
Interview with Daniel Lamb and Peter Goulding recorded by Rachel Norman on 10 April 2026. Duration: 1 hr 26 mins 22 secs.

Peter Goulding and Daniel Lamb interviewed by Rachel Norman

2026-04-10