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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: walter1860 on Tuesday 23 October 18 14:18 BST (UK)

Title: Railway Ancestors
Post by: walter1860 on Tuesday 23 October 18 14:18 BST (UK)
Hello

I have tried for a while to find the railway record of my great grand father.  I have tried Ancestry which has quite a large amount and the National Archives though that was some time ago and I may need to go again.

My ancestor worked at Bromley North & South (Kent), Shortlands & other nearby stations just prior to The Great War and after The Great War up until the early 1950's.

I am unsure what railway company he worked but probably SR.

Can anyone advise me on the best way to go?

Many thanks
Title: Re: Railway Ancestors
Post by: scotmum on Tuesday 23 October 18 15:23 BST (UK)

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/railways/

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C12839
Title: Re: Railway Ancestors
Post by: walter1860 on Tuesday 23 October 18 16:03 BST (UK)
Thank you!
Title: Re: Railway Ancestors
Post by: mazi on Tuesday 23 October 18 17:31 BST (UK)
It is most likely that before  the grouping in 1922 he was working for the South Eastern and Chatham railway, after 1922 the southern region.

Railway records of individual staff can be hard to find, and many have not yet been digitised.

Mike
Title: Re: Railway Ancestors
Post by: mazi on Tuesday 23 October 18 17:33 BST (UK)
Having said that, try this link

http://www.southeasternandchathamrailway.org.uk/research.html
 A little way down the page a list of what is held in the national archives
Mike
Title: Re: Railway Ancestors
Post by: iluleah on Tuesday 23 October 18 17:50 BST (UK)
Rail trage union records are at Warwick University  https://warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/explorefurther/subject_guides/family_history/rail/

It is amazing how many records were thrown away when BR was separated into companies and again when it was privatised and NO ONE wanted them I salvaged many from the LMR and tried. All the leather bound books which contained the names of rail workers back decades, their requested travel tickets ( depending on grade of staff depends on annual allowance) all the rosta books, TOPs records, Pay records. Whole offices of records were dumped along with all the furniture.
Title: Re: Railway Ancestors
Post by: walter1860 on Tuesday 06 November 18 14:08 GMT (UK)
Thank you for all the information everybody!
Title: Re: Railway Ancestors
Post by: ThrelfallYorky on Tuesday 06 November 18 14:54 GMT (UK)
Someone on here called "Red Roger" gave me some very sensible help re: railway engine drivers, some years ago.
Title: Re: Railway Ancestors
Post by: scotmum on Tuesday 06 November 18 15:48 GMT (UK)
Someone on here called "Red Roger" gave me some very sensible help re: railway engine drivers, some years ago.

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=72813
Title: Re: Railway Ancestors
Post by: walter1860 on Wednesday 07 November 18 13:30 GMT (UK)
Thank you Scotmum for taking the time to reply!
Title: Re: Railway Ancestors
Post by: Regorian on Wednesday 07 November 18 14:11 GMT (UK)
From what has been written, it doesn't seem to be worth my while trying to find records for my grandfather who worked for GWR until the end of 1940, driving expresses from and back to Paddington. I haven't got the energy any more to drive to Kew.

I have a photograph my father took in 1931 of that Dawlish section which washed away a few years ago.

In those days, upper class, aristocracy and even Royals would walk up to the cab and thank the driver and fireman for a safe journey. A more civilised time. 
Title: Re: Railway Ancestors
Post by: iluleah on Wednesday 07 November 18 14:53 GMT (UK)
From what has been written, it doesn't seem to be worth my while trying to find records for my grandfather who worked for GWR until the end of 1940, driving expresses from and back to Paddington. I haven't got the energy any more to drive to Kew.

I have a photograph my father took in 1931 of that Dawlish section which washed away a few years ago.

In those days, upper class, aristocracy and even Royals would walk up to the cab and thank the driver and fireman for a safe journey. A more civilised time.

Ancestry has UK, Railway Employment Records, 1833-1956 if you are not a member the local library is a likely place to view them. TheGenealogist also has rail records

http://www.steamindex.com/people/drivers.htm

Title: Re: Railway Ancestors
Post by: Regorian on Wednesday 07 November 18 16:13 GMT (UK)
Thank you Ileuliah, I'm not a subscriber to Ancestry but it just happens a cousin who is, has just had a look for me.

Started GWR 10Apr1899. Wage increased to 4/6d pd? 18Feb1907. Trfrd. to Plymouth. Strange that, it was about the time he married my grandmother. My father was born Willesden 1908.