Premium Apprentice at Doncaster Works 1949 to 1953; Doncaster locomotive Drawing Office 1956 to 1957; M&EE BRB HQ, Derby 1067 to 1993; 1970 joined Braking Section as Deputy to Brake Engineer BRB; became Brake Engineer BRB HQ in 1983; d.o.b 1932-12-05. railway work 1949 to 1994. BR; BSI; RIA; ORE; UIC; Class 40; Class 86; Class 25; EP brakes; cab ventilation; air conditioning; composition brake blocks; HST Power cars; EQ Brake; HST braking; Westinghouse; Davies and Metcalfe; Class 508; Private Owner Wagons; Class 313; air brake systems and condensation; blue spotting; pressure vessel design; BR modification procedure; Class 123; Doncaster works; Doncaster Carr Depot; Perth; Inverness; Bottesford; Darlington; Railway Technical Centre, Derby; Vienna Arsenal; Barry; Merseyside; Tyne and Wear; Motherwell; Sheffield; Copyhold Junction; Colwich; Walton on the Naze; Hull Dairycoates; Stourbridge Town; Stafford; Tunstead; Beattock; Paddington; Nicholas, Brian 2003 and 2004
Served 4 year apprenticeship as a bricklayer with Henry Boot and Son; joined LNER as a bricklayer in 1939 and worked in this trade throughout his career as a tradesman, chargehand andfrom time to time as a supervisor in the Sheffield area; Army service 1942 to 1946;clearing River culverts under Sheffield Station; work on buildings, Royal Victoria Hotel, Sheffield, Wicker Arch, Neepsend Locomotive Shed; Aerocem pointing in Tunnels; colliery subsidence; reminiscences of Bosses, Albert Johnson, Brian Davis. Linley, William Henry 2001-05-31
Oral history recording; Expanding National Archive of Railway Oral History; Nick Alexander; religion; changes in the community; changes in the railway industry; marshalling yards; engineer; British Rail; retirement activity; 1950s; 1960s; 1970s; 1980s; 1990s; 2000s; Cambridge; Tinsley; Leeds; Liberia; Mozambique; Swaziland; Greece; Potters Bar Alexander, Nick 2006-01-26
Oral history recording; Expanding National Archive of Railway Oral History; George Saville; childhood; sport; railway community; memories of individuals; anecdotes from the workplace; changes in the railway industry; unions; strikes; Ernest Marples; Dr Beeching; Stratford; Devons Road; Tilbury; Rotterdam; West Ham; Moscow; Felixstowe; Billingsgate; Thurrock Saville, George 2005-11-29
Oral history recording; Expanding National Archive of Railway Oral History; Donald Reasbeck; childhood; family life; sport; religion; pubs/drinking; railway community; changes in the community; changes in the railway industry; charity work; 1950s; 1960s; 1970s; 1980s; 1990s; 2000s; Doncaster; Hexthorpe; Bridlington; Rhyl; Armthorpe Reasbeck, Donald 2005-02-01
Oral history recording; Expanding National Archive of Railway Oral History; Richard Hardy; work culture and relationships; memories of individuals; conditions at work; working on steam; working on diesel; working on electric; change from steam to diesel; depots; works; changes in the railway industry; unions; tension at work; management grades; British Rail; 1950s; 1960s; Stratford Hardy, Richard 2005-08-10
Oral history recording; Expanding National Archive of Railway Oral History; Audrey Wright; railway community; memories of individuals; retirement activity; charity work; 1980s; 1990s; 2000s; Doncaster; Sheffield; Worksop; Derby; Albania; Italy; Poland; Filey Wright, Audrey 2005-11-10
Oral history recording; Expanding National Archive of Railway Oral History; Gordon Hull; childhood; family life; sport; Railway Institute; railway community; changes in the community; work culture and relationships; memories of individuals; conditions ar work; depots; marshalling yards; changes in the railway industry; wages and overtime; signalman; management grades; British Rail; other industries; retirement activity; charity work; 1950s; 1960s; 1970s; 1980s; 1990s; Leeds; Sunderland; Durham; Dunston; Staithes; Derwenthaugh; York; Newcastle; Pickburn; Brodsworth; Nottingham; Cudworth; Guiseley; Ripley; Otley; Ilkley; Bradford; Healey Mills; Selby; Drax; Hull Hull, Gordon 2006-03-30
Oral history recording; Expanding National Archive of Railway Oral History; BRSA; pubs/drinking; railway community; work culture and relationships; conditions at work; open days; working on diesel; depots; changes in the railway industry; wages and overtime; engineer; ethnic minorities; British Rail; 1960s; 1970s; 1980s; Stratford; Liverpool Street; Norwich; Colchester; Doncaster; Temple Mills; Barking; Brentwood; York; Harwich and Parkeston Quay; Felixstowe Johns, Mike 2005-05-09
Oral history recording; Expanding National Archive of Railway Oral History; Scott Hellewell; childhood; work culture and relationships; memories of individuals; unions; management grades; British Rail; other industries; Second World War; 1950s; 1960s; 1970s; 1980s; 1990s; Bradford; Blandford; Morecambe; Darlington; York; Athens; Hamburg; Bonn; Wakefield; Hull; Settle; Carlisle; Manchester; Sheffield; Toronto Hellewell, Scott 2005-03-03
Oral history recording; Expanding National Archive of Railway Oral History; Peter Cookson; childhood; family life; sport; religion; changes in the community; Big Four; ethnic minorities; other industries; retirement activity; pre-war; 1950s; 1960s; 1970s; 1980s; 1990s; 2000s; Pontefract; Leeds; Bridlington; Ferrybridge; Bradford; Halifax; Castleford; Knottingley; Normanton; Featherstone; Wakefield; Doncaster; Goole; Sheffield; York; South Elmsall; Moorthorpe Cookson, Peter 2006-03-07
Oral history recording; Expanding National Archive of Railway Oral History; Lew Adams; childhood; Railway Institute; railway community; work culture and relationships; anecdotes from the workplace; memories of individuals; canteens; working on steam; working on diesel; change from steam to diesel; depots; changes in the railway industry; wages and overtime; seniority; hostels; Mutual Improvement Class; fireman and driver training; firemen and driver examinations; unions; strikes; tension at work; cleaner; fireman; driver; secondman; local government; national politics; British Rail; other industries; 1950s; 1960s; 1970s; 1980s; 1990s; 2000s; Margaret Thatcher; Dr Beeching; Harold Wilson; Barbara Castle; Shirley Williams; Stratford; Bletchley; Yarmouth; Peterborough; Chelmsford; March; Ispwich; Ely; Dagenham; Wickford; Romford; Bishopsgate; Gidea Park; Ilford; King's Cross; Bexley; Newham; Hertford; Paddington; Moscow; Milton Keynes Adams, Lew 2004-07-12; 2004-07-13
Oral history recording; Expanding National Archive of Railway Oral History; Arthur Heaven; childhood; railway community; changes in the community; unions; local government; Big Four; BRSA; sport; other industries; pre-war; 1950s; 1960s; 1970s; 1980s; 1990s; 2000s; Doncaster; Sheffield; Hexthorpe; Balby; Hyde Park Heaven, Arthur 2004-10-28
Oral history recording; Expanding National Archive of Railway Oral History; George Saville; childhood; world war one; world war two; sport; railway community; changes in the community; work culture and relationships; anecdotes from the workplace; memories of individuals; working on steam; working on diesel; change from steam to diesel; depots; wages and overtime; seniority; hostels; Mutual Improvement Class; fireman and driver training; unions; strikes; cleaner; fireman; secondman; driver; national politics; British Rail; ethnic minorities; retirement activity; pre-war; 1950s; 1960s; 1970s; 1980s; 1990s; 2000s; Margaret Thatcher; Joan Littlewood; Dr Beeching; Stratford; Leyton; Malden; Witham; Chelmsford; Brentwood; Liverpool Street; Epping; Ongar; Temple Mills; Victoria; Silverton; Woolwich; Billingsgate; Romford; Dagenham; Angel Lane; Harlow; Basildon; Loughton; Ilford; Devons Road; Ripple Lane; Barking; London; Tilbury; Southend; Bishopsgate Saville, George 2004-09-17; 2004-09-20
footplate; cleaner; passed cleaner; fireman; passed fireman; driver; d.o.b. 1917-12-25, railway work 1936-1976, Hellifield; Garsdale; Dent; Blackburn; Long Preston; Northampton; Willesden; William Chaffer 2001-03-12; 2001-03-29;
clerk; Royal Engineers; station master; goods agent; d.o.b. 1918-05-06, d. 2002-10-02, railway work 1936-1974, Albrighton; Gobowen; Lechlade; Chirk; Shrewsbury; Longmoor; Horbury; Thornliebank; Barton Stacey; Auchinwraith; Sudbury; Bombay; Calcutta Docks; Jalunda; New Delhi; Corwen; Longbridge; Newquay; Birmingham Snow Hill; Paddington; Bristol Temple Meads. 3.1496 x 2.8346 x .315 in. Windsor, Reginald George Wynn 2001-01-16; 2001-01-24
clerk; stationmaster's wife; Travelling Post Office; d.o.b. 1936, railway work 1955-1963, Helmsdale; Sinclair, Anne Holmes 2001-03-28
footplate; engine cleaner; fireman; driver; shift foreman; area depot manager; train crew manager; motive power officer; assistant traction & train crew manager; exhibition trains; d.o.b. 1921-12-07, railway work 1921-1984, Weymouth; Bristol St Philips Marsh; Templecombe; Salisbury; Woking; Reading; Old Oak; Beckenham; Waterloo; Hither Green; London Victoria; Perry, Ken A. 2001-03-13
permanent way; lengthman; ganger; d.o.b. 1935, railway work 1963-1995, Scotscalder; Altnabreac; Georgemas Junction; Wick; Sinclair, Lewis 2001-03-28
traffic apprentice; Royal Engineers; assistant yard master; station master; chief trains clerk; area manager; marketing officer; passenger sales planning; passenger fares; chief passenger manager; retail manager; d.o.b. 1935-07-12, railway work 1958-1990, Barnsley; Wath Marshalling Yard; Darnall; Peterborough; Rotherham Yard; Spalding; Newcastle; Dundee; BRB Headquarters London; Chamberlain, Alan 2001-04-17
clerk; invoices, goods; passenger refunds; claims work; travelling ticket bureau; efficiency commissions; d.o.b. 1929-10-15, railway work 1929-1973, Nine Elms Goods Depot; Wimbledon Goods; Kingston Goods; Waterloo; Woking; Marylebone. 3.1496 x 2.8346 x .315 in. Greenfield, Harry Thomas (Tom) 2001-06-26
apprentice; electrical and mechanical engineering; locomotives; family; school; Cambridge University; English Electric Company; apprenticeship, piecework; apprenticeship, hours; Edge Hill Depot, Liverpool; locomotives; shedmasters; dieselisation; attitude; Sudan; conditions, weather; locomotive maintenance; illness; Kenya 1961-1963, load testing; diesel locomotives; conditions, high altitude; 1963, London, Finsbury Park and Stratford depots; EEC representative; locomotives Class 1-5, Deltic locomotives; manufacturer representatives; Crewe 100 AR6 locomotives; Roy Kelly; commissioning AR6s; Crewe electric traction depot; working practice; Doncaster Works staff; Walter Jarrett, engineer; Mr S.B. Warder, BRB Electrical Engineer; demonstrating electric locomotives; Shugborough Tunnel; attitude; test runs; incident in Sudan; repairs to AR6 locomotives; marriage; nose-suspended traction motors; electrification stock; attitude; marriage; Crewe; West Coast mainline; success of A6 locomotives; EEC-BR locomotive development collaboration; sales; contracts; 1968-1969 GEC, EEC, AEI; voluntary redundancy; SKF, different work practices; producing water jet boats; Westinghouse Co. 1974; Jubilee Line experimental tube train; Luke Marsden-Smedley, move to Hong Kong, 1977; house market, reaction of wife to move abroad; Hong Kong Mass Transit Corporation; rolling stock standards, Electric Multiple Units (EMU); Electrical Engineer; Design manager; GEC Traction, 1983; Singapore Metro, Chief Electrical and Mechanical Engineer; redundancy; wife's reaction; Stuart Scott, project director; responsibilities; comparison with Hong Kong; platform edge doors; energy conservation; railway architecture; London Underground, 1989; demise of engineering role; innovation; privatisation; retirement; Vintage Engineering Ltd; railway preservation. d.o.b. 1934-08-27, railway work 1950-1990s, Edge Hill; Sudan; Kenya; London; Stratford; Crewe; Hong Kong; Singapore; West Coast Mainline. 3.1496 x 2.8346 x .315 in. Vint, John 2000-06-01
Footplate, cleaner, fireman, driver; sectional council; women engine cleaners; third man on engine; army service; weather, pea souper fog; reductions in depot; nationalisation; d.o.b. 1928-10-30, railway work 1944-1993, Nine Elms; Clapham Junction; Southern Region. 3.1496 x 2.8346 x .315 in. Lifford, Ronald Albert 2000-05-30
goods, junior clerk, class 4; inspecting officer; public relations; releif booking clerk; commercial department; travel centre; interview; entrance exam; medical centre; horse drawn traffic; number taking; outward truck section; cartage; British Transport Police; self-improvement; railway culture; incident; conditions; uniforms; APTIS; TRIBUTE machine, introduction; disciplinary procedures; staff recalled; murder; demotivation; d.o.b. 1946-02-26, railway work 1961-1996, Ipswich goods station; Norwich general offices; Liverpool Street; Bishopsgate offices; Harold Wood; Southend Line; York; North Eastern Region; Eastern Region; Anglia Railways. 3.1496 x 2.8346 x .315 in. Feakes, David Mervyn 2000-08-11; 2000-08-18
signalling; box lad; telegraph lad; signalman; area inspector; royal train inspector; Transmark; father's work on railways; learning single needle telegraph as a schoolboy; starting work with a shipbuilding firm; first job on railway, box lad, Boothferry Road; transfer to Doncaster, telegraph lad; different systems between GNR and GCR; National Service, two years in RAF; first job as a signalman; relief signalman; conditions (shifts, weekends); marriage; working conditions; travelling between jobs; Acting Temporary Divisional Inspector; Area Inspector; involvement in derailments and incidents; Signalbox Supervisor; experience of handling fatalities; Chief Divisional Signalling Inspector; involvement in resignalling schemes; Area Relief Manager; experience of Miners' Strike; Chief Regional Signalling Inspector; signalling schemes, OCS, NX, IECC; Royal Train Inspector; Great Storm, 1987; secondment to Malaysia with Transmark; d.o.b. 1933-01-21, railway work 1948-1994, Doncaster; Malaysia. 3.1496 x 2.8346 x .315 in. Briggs, Geoffrey 2000-11-16; 2000-11-30
apprentice; carriage and wagon works; foreman; wagon shops, apprentice; Hush Hush locomotive; first aid; leisure; Annesley; wagon repairer, Second World War; private owner wagons; pay; promotion; evening classes, examinations; Assist District C&W Foreman; District C&W Foreman, 1958, training; cripple wagons; diesel railcars; regional policy differences; brake and heater problems; derailments; redundancy; special wagons; d.o.b. 1922-02-09, railway work 1937-1984, Lincoln; Doncaster; Gorton Works; Grimsby; Immingham; Attenborough, George 2001-01-31
apprentice; signal and telegraph engineering; signal inspector; childhood; apprenticeship, training, graduate training; Technical College; lineside work; lineside work, Yorkshire; lineside work, Manchester; Assist Signal Inspector, lineside work, Second World War; Assist Inspector, end of war; company rivalry, electrical & mechanical signalling; Wigan resignalling; Area Assist, Glasgow; Stirling, dual inspector; Head Office signal engineer; vandalism; inspections; d.o.b. 1918-10-, railway work 1935-1982, Warrington, Wigan, Glasgow James, Ron 2001-01-24
control; traffic apprentice; dieselisation; freight; terminals; operating; royal train; reorganisations; travel centre; childhood; family; school; holidays; church; starting work; Rotherham Masborough; Rotherham Westgate; Rotherham Control; Rotherham Control; office training; workplace atmosphere; Derby; regional boundary changes; Control folklore; weather, 1947; Second World War; nationalisation; traffic apprenticeship exam; Leicester Control; promotion, Passenger Controller; family; lodging family; promotion, Trains Office, Leicester, 1960; dieselisation; record-keeping; reorganisations; trade unions, LDC; Control Nottingham, Freight Planning Passenger Assistant; Area Terminals Manager; freight planning, passenger work; staffing; responsibilities; Area Terminals Manager; responsibilities; staff relations; VIPs; Royal Train; Silver Jubilee; training, Derby; home life, Nottingham; church; Freight Operating Assistant, Sheffield; closure of regional office; differences between regions; threat of Sheffield closure; consultation; promotion, Passenger Assistant Manager; passenger section; workload; closure of divisions; restructuring; impact of National Union of Mineworkers' strike on closure; Operations Manager, Doncaster; Doncaster Power Box; train recording; level crossings; transfer of divisional controls; role of Inspectorate; criticism of new headquarters and area organisations; relationships with area managers; businesses; house move; redundancy; York headquarters; retirement; reflections on career; achievements; Nottingham Travel Centre; regional differences; retirement; d.o.b. 1931-01-20, railway work 1947-1988, Rotherham; Derby; Leicester; Nottingham; Sheffield; Doncaster; York. 3.1496 x 2.8346 x .315 in. Baker, Ken 2000-11-29;2000-11-30
signalling and telegraph department; electrification; different signalling and control systems; telegraph office messenger; telegraph & electrical installation squad, Carlisle, Stranraer; telephone switchboard; duties, wages; telegraph lineman, Edinburgh; key token; Leclanche cells; intermediate block signal maintenance; Second World War; block controls installation; loyalites between CR and GSWR; Quintinshill incident; WCML electrification; single line working; pole route maintenance; Cairn Valley signalling system; area reorganisation; equipment; interlocking signals; resignalling, Dumfires, 1956; royal train duties, 1946-54; domestic life; seasonal jobs; tablet working equipment; maintenance; experience; different signalling systems; naming signal boxes; safety improvements; nationalisation; water troughs; track circuits; training, electrical signalling; tablet failure; maintenance and installation experience; motor operated points; weather problems; cables; automatic half-barrier installation; level crossing; electrification; WCML; staffing; Sykes signalling; long section working; block circuit; electrification; work study; maintenance; anecdotes; rules; anecdotes; redundancy; d.o.b. 1912-12, railway work 1927-1977, Scotland. 3.1496 x 2.8346 x .315 in. Veevers, James Wannop 2001-01-10
footplate, cleaner-driver; trade union official; Beeching closures; electrification;family, father, a cavalry officer, First World War; three sisters and a brother; death of brother, aged five; father, rejoined Army, Second World War; mother's job, a medical glass blower; leaving school, 1940; first job, a cleaner, King's Cross; Second World War, London Blitz; trade union, joining NUR; transfer to Neesden; active union member at branch level, NUR; one year's leave from British Rail, NUR studies; declined position with London School of Economics; interest in industrial trade unionism; LDC representative, depot level; joined Labour League of Youth Politics; National Executive member, NUR, 1962-64; involvement in Beeching rationalisation; fireman and driver, Neesden, London Marylebone; experience of steam electric traction; leaving railway to be full-time NUR official; involvement in Miners' Strike; Chairman, TUC Regional Committee; member of Economic Planning Council; preparing paper on railway electrification (MML); member of industrial tribunals; attending inquests on railway deaths; attending Ministry of Transport Inquiries; d.o.b. 1925-01-11, railway work 1941-1988, Kings Cross; Neesden. 3.1496 x 2.8346 x .315 in. Trench, Roy Henry 2000-11-20
footplate, bar lad, cleaner, fireman; leaving school, aged 14; starting work at a baker's; joining railway, bar lad, Buxton; progression through cleaner, passed cleaner; fireman, Buxton; experience working heavy trains over steep gradients; National Service; severe weather conditions, 1947; involvement in many different incidents; fireman in exhibit in National Railway Museum; member of Midland Railway Preservation Society; father's job, a driver, his railway experiences; d.o.b. 1929-07-21, railway work 1944-1953, Buxton. 3.1496 x 2.8346 x .315 in. Palfreyman, Brian 2000-11-13
daughter of a fish merchant; Second World War railway recollections; traffic, loaded fish orders onto trains; school special trains to Lake District; elderly fishermen travelling to Dunkirk by train to assist in evacuation; d.o.b. 1928-04-01, railway work 1939-1945, Durham; Berwick; Leeds; Lake District; Evans, Maree 2001-01-23
station clerk; stationmaster; traffic apprentice; Assistant Yard Master; Head of Signalling & Accidents; Chief Trains Clerk & Controller; Section Manager; Area Manager; field organisation; royal trains; Operations Officer; freight; reorganisations; d.o.b. 1927-07-15, railway work 1942-1983, Marske; Thornaby; Sherburn-in-Elmet; Eaglescliffe; Darlington; Hawes; Moulton; Croft Spa; Hull; Scarborough; Leeds Hunslet; Settle-Carlisle; Lincoln; Middlesbrough; York; Bradford; Leeds; Sheffield; London North Eastern Railway (LNER); Appleby, Kenneth 2001-01-18; 2001-01-25
footplate, cleaner, fireman; Mutual Improvement Classes; Father's job, a railway guard, secretary of National Union of Railwaymen (NUR), Lincoln Branch; starting work, first job as a cinema operator; joining Great Northern Railway (GNR), Lincoln, as a cleaner; joining NUR; supporter of Mutual Improvement Classes; becoming a passed cleaner and fireman; recollections of various incidents; leaving railway to read History at Oxford University; continuing interest in railways; work on documenting Joint Line; work with County Archive; d.o.b. 1922-01-06, railway work 1938-1950. 3.1496 x 2.8346 x .315 in. Cossey, Frank 2000-11-23
office boy; erecting shop apprentice; ancillary industry, locomotive manufacturers; Royal Engineers; fitter; breakdown work; d.o.b. 1921, railway work 1936-1985, Darlington; Longmoor; Cairnryan; Thirsk. 3.1496 x 2.8346 x .315 in. Leng, Jack 2001-02-19
footplate; engine cleaner; fireman; driver; First World War; Second World War; General Strike; diesel training; LNW Provident & Pension Fund; trade union; running shift foreman; d.o.b. 1899-08-14, railway work 1914-1964, Tebay; Wigan Springs Branch; Carlisle; Perth; Crewe; Ingleton; Garston Dock; Salop; Penrith; London; Ince Moss; Windermere. 3.1496 x 2.8346 x .315 in. Wilson, Percy 2001-02-14
railway clerk, works, stationmaster's office, motive power department, operating department; Railway Clerks' Association, TSSA; Swindon Works annual holidays; d.o.b. 1931-05-28, railway work 1948-1987, Swindon Works; Swindon Station; Paddington Regional Headquarters; Ellis, David Patrick 2001-10-02
clerk; British Transport Advertising; records clerk; site development; advertising; concourse advertising; d.o.b. 1930-01-26, railway work 1955-1979, London; Liverpool Street; Waterloo. 3.1496 x 2.8346 x .315 in. Smith, Peter Terence 2001-08-07
training; London Transport; mechanical engineering; design and development; Docklands Light Railway; d.o.b. 1927-07-07, railway work 1946-1989, London; Docklands; Ware, Denzil Keith 2001-11-08
apprentice; fitter; chargehand; 1919-11-05, railway work 1933-1981, Crewe; Crewe Works; 3.1496 x 2.8346 x .315 in. Fortuna, Harry 2001-08-03
lad porter, porter, signalman; d.o.b. 1941-01-10, railway work 1960-1975, Challow, Uffington, Oxford, Hinksey, Witham Vaughan, Adrian 2001-05-20
Oral history recording; Expanding National Archive of Railway Oral History; Ernst Birchler; daytrips/outings; work culture and relationships; anecdotes from the workplace; working on electric; depots; changes in the railway industry; fireman and driver training; engineer; British Rail; privatisation; Second World War; 1950s; 1960s; 1970s; 1980s; 1990s; Stratford; Oerlikon; Chadwell Heath; Liverpool Street; Eastleigh; London; Manchester; Liverpool; Colchester; Clacton; Southend; Shenfield; Sheffield; Wath; Fenchurch Street; Glasgow; Epping; Ongar; Ilford; Rayleigh; Gidea Park Birchler, Ernst 2005-03-22
Oral history recording; Expanding National Archive of Railway Oral History; David Court; Flying Scotsman. david Court remembering his career with the railways including his work as the firement abouard the Flying Scotsman during its visit to north America in the early 1960s. Court, David 2005-07-14
Oral history interview with Tom Strophair conducted and recorded by Robert Aitchison on 23 March 2004, as part of the Time Tracks oral history collecting initiative. Duration 1 hour 5 minutes 7 seconds. Born in 1927 in Witton Park; early life; apprenticeship; army; Shildon railway works; reparation steel from Japan; long shed; motive power shed; electric trains; Shildon works closure 1984; pensions; prisoner of war; 1975 celebrations, Stockton and Darlington 150th anniversary; wagon repair; traverser; closure of shipbuilding; closure of pits; Shildon station; railway institute; almshouses Tom Strophair interviewed by Robert Aitchison 2004-03-23
Oral history recording; Expanding National Archive of Railway Oral History; Ken Robinson; sport; daytrips/outings; housing; railway clubs; BRSA; railway community; changes in the community; work culture and relationships; conditions at work; change from steam to diesel; depots; marshalling yards; changes in the railway industry; wages and overtime; unions; strikes;management grades; Big Four; British Rail; ethnic minorities; other industries; Second World War; charity work; pre-war; 1950s; 1960s; 1970s; 1980s; 1990s; 2000s; Sheffield; Chapeltown; Burton-on-Trent; Ecclesfield; Grimethorpe; Tinsley; Liverpool Street; London; Heeley; York; Whitby; Scarborough; Blackpool; Neepsend; Darnall; Wath; Derby; Leeds Robinson, Ken 2006-03-06
Oral history interview with Eric Brass (session 1 of 2) conducted by Robert Aitchison on 25 February 2004 as part of the Time Tracks oral history collecting initiative. Original duration: 41 minutes, however there are many distortions throughout the recording, resulting in 28 minutes of audible recording via the digital access file. Education, All Saints School (left 1948); career start, clothing factory, Shildon Works; served 2 years National Service, returned to works; following Shildon works closure stayed for 8 years with new owners until aged 60 years; [00:01:00] apprentice fitter, new wagons, repair side, promotion, jig and tool work, charge hand for drilling machines; [00:02:00] after Works closure, company who took over the Works until final closure; impact of Shildon Works closure, personal impact, devastated although still had a job, impact on town, hard times for the town, some younger men transferred, loss of small businesses; [00:03:20] working conditions, improved as times went by, forge example; Works stories; relationships, friendly, managers; protest march against closure in Thatcher era, Works was closed even though they were the best, reduction in Union power, bitterness, closure spoilt lifetime of working at the Works; [00:06:20] 1975 celebrations, Stockton and Darlington 150th anniversary, on duty, great event, thousands of people; living in Shildon; hard times at start of War, parents ensured family had sufficient food, post War “boom” time at Works, family members at the Works; list of shops in Shildon, picture houses; [00:09:20] population of Shildon, decreased a few thousands since closure, during “boom” time every family had some connection to Works; Shildon Works, where it was, office building site, biggest sidings; [00:11:10] personal views on new museum, good, questions longevity of museum and visitor target numbers; importance of Shildon Works, valued in near area, men employed from wide area, good comradeship, views of Darlington railway works workers; [00:13:00] memories of first museum, visited in early days, housed in “boxing” family's house, visited with father from 5-6 years old; personal views on politics of area and local people engagement with politics; [00:14:50] National Service, 1955-1957, armourer, glad to get it over; [00:15:40] employment at Shildon Works, example of how keen men were to work at the Works, comparison with other local workplaces; first wage, first job in the office delivering mail, little money when serving his time, followed father who was employed at the Works, pride in products; [00:18:00] Merry-go-round wagons, local haulage firm involvement, good local firm involvement, other product production; [00:19:30] Shildon works, further details, maximum of two and a half thousand men, caused town population increase, best times 1960’s and 1970’s, closure 1984, unclear why closure occurred, overseas competition; [00:22:20] Second World War, women worked, Italian prisoners of war, 5 years old when War started; scalding accident, hospital treatment; interview interrupted [00:28:05] [end of interview] Eric Brass interviewed by Robert Aitchison (session 1 of 2) 2004-02-25
footplate, cleaner, driver; Cheltenham Flyer; LMS express trains; Castle class, King class; Maunsell; engineer; maintenance sheds, Derby, Bath; coal wagons; Chief Mechanical Engineers comparison of London Midland & Scottish (LMS) & Great Western GWR; joining railway; Walsall; 1915; First World War; conditions, pay; labour shortages; cleaner; transfer to Derby; Saltleigh; goods traffic; variety of work; First World War raid, Derby Shed; Bourneville-London firing jobs; lodging at Cricklewood; Cadbury sidings - Kentish Town job; Cadbury special train; hostels; firing experiences; First World War, ambulance trains; problems getting steam up; GWR; Maunsell engineer; Schools class; civil engineer's role; crossing Irish Sea; job to Holyhead; hostels, Bourneville, Camden, Wilsden; lodgings, Kentish Town, Wellingborough, Northampton; sand sidings; Bourneville, 1922; Walsall; engine shed closure; Ryecroft Shed; 1936, driver; training; Bristol, Barrow Road; restricted opportunities; driving turns, Leeds, Newcastle, Weston-super-Mare; lodgings; conditions, hours, mileage, pay; discipline; record runs; going up a bank without a banker; stuck on Incline; Second World War; incident; defective wagons; propaganda; enquiry; punishment, demotion; air raids. d.o.b. 1898-06-25. railway work 1908-1963. Derby; Birmingham; London; Bourneville passenger shed. London Midland & Scottish (LMS); Great Western Railway (GWR). 3.1496 x 2.8346 x .315 in. King, Tom 2000-08-08
clerk; Control; dieselisation; Area Manager; royal train; reorganisation; incidents; junior clerk, Wadebridge, 1951; clerk; Plymouth, fog operations; controller; Assistant Station Master; Reading; steam/diesel transition; weather; GW/GC joint line; Southall; Reading; staff relations; safety; Reading; fatalities; Westbury; Area Manager; Shenfield; Area Manager, Waterloo; Lord Mountbatten's funeral; royal train; newspaper traffic; Waterloo headquarters; two-tier reorganisation; Clapham accident, inquiry; Hidden Report; consultancy, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Singapore, New Zealand; d.o.b. 1936-07-26 railway work 1951-1999. Wadebridge; Plymouth; Reading; Shenfield; Waterloo; Clapham. 3.1496 x 2.8346 x .315 in. Adams, Trevor G. 2000-08-04
draughtsman; drawing office; surveys; permanent way; Royal Engineers; civil engineering; Arthur Dean; tampers; payment by results; canteen facilities; work study; operating development; staff recruitment; branch line investigations, Barbara Castle; Br Beeching; reorganisations; Woking Staff College; freight; TOPS; planning systems; trade unions; Freightliner; computerisation; financial control; Price Waterhouse investigation; BRB management style; business sector management; Transaid; d.o.b. 1931-11-16, railway work 1948-1987, Bradford; Barnsley; Farnborough; Germany; Wakefield; Harrogate; York; Hull; Newcastle; Carlisle; Alston; Robin Hood's Bay; London; Watford; Stratford; Africa, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa; Linney, Peter 2001-03-07
