RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => New Zealand => New Zealand Completed Requests => Topic started by: ValJJJ on Friday 03 April 20 09:55 BST (UK)
-
Apologies if I've missed this in resources, but is there an archive anywhere of NZ railway workers in the 1900s, particularly 1916-1940s please?
Thanks.
Val
-
Contact the New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society
A large collection of Railway Department correspondence files is held at Ava.
(These are in addition to those held by National Archives at various locations throughout New Zealand. A register of such files is held by the Society.)
-
Thanks KiwiPeter, I shall contact them.
Val
-
Hi Val,
In the past I have looked through the yearly staff list books of Railway Department staff. Staff are listed by department and then seniority, and then occupation, and only by surname and initials.
From my experience it was very time-consuming to trawl though these books, each containing thousands of names, so if you can also provide your researcher an approximate date of joining or leaving the department and his specific occupation it will help a great deal.
Spades
-
Yes, those books are called the D3, a very important tool when applying for jobs, so you knew who else was ahead you etc...
Been there and done that. Normal staff never got to see any other staff lists to be honest.
I am sure there was such things, and most it would have been entered in a Computer.
Railways was quite early into entering things in databases etc. But you need to also remember that the Railways in one form or another has been around since the 1870s,
I am a member of quite a few Railway type groups on Facebook, so I think that's the first place one should start,
-
OK, further to this, I placed a request for information on one the NZ rail groups I am a member of on Facebook. Here is an answer......
The D3 lists were the main lists, and they started in 1895. We do have some old staff registers in the NZRLS archive, but they are far from a complete set. Those old manual staff registers generally peter out in the 1910s.
So yes the NZRLS at Ava in Wellington would be the place to start, I assume you looked on Archway (NZ ARCHIVES)
-
Thanks KiwiPeter and Spades. I'll pass this info on to the NZ family concerned. I also looked at the NZ Railway and Locomotive Soc and followed a few links on that website to local groups and heritage railway groups so that is also useful, if not for employees, for insight into the railway development in Northland.
-
yes, there are a lot of books and booklets written about NZ rail, and north land etc. I think I have them all if something is needed.
-
Thanks for the offer of info from your books KiwiPeter.
More information has just come to light on questioning older relatives and it turns out that the job was an engine driver, but not on the main lines. And that his occupation was only train-related from 1957 onwards. So I have changed the heading of this post for any future viewers.
He was a sidings shunter at Westfield, moving wagons for various factories that were there. Apparently he also worked for the Otamatea county council as a grader driver (whatever that is! I imagine road rather than rail?).
So would a shunter in an industrial sidings setting be a railway employee or an employee of the sidings yard?
-
most sidings private and other wise were shunted by NZ Rail staff. However most the freezing works had their own loco and drivers and shunting staff.
Places like the workshops at Otahuhu had a shunter. Westfield freezing. K & P fertilizer like wise.
There will be someone on one those facebook groups that will more than likely know who he was etc.
-
Thanks for that - I will set the NZ relatives on that quest!
Also how do I modify the topic here to alter the date I'm looking at please? I changed it for my previous post and thought it would change all the posts, but it hasn't. I can't see a way of modifying my original post.
-
I am not sure, I think you have been here longer then I. I am sure a Mod will pop up and tell u.
-
Hello Val.
A poster has 24 hours in which they can use the MODIFY button to edit their post, thereafter they can ask for a MODERATOR for assistance. The NZ board moderator SPADES will usually help, but if he is unavailable others can also make changes on the NZ Board.
Alan.
-
Tx Alan, I've asked for help.
-
Hi Val,
Do I understand that you want the topic title changed to 'Re: Railway employee records early 1900s?'?
I can do that.
Spades
-
Hi Spades
I'd like the original post topic changed from early 1900s to early 1950s please. Thanks.
Val
-
Hi Val,
Don't need to; it's already been corrected. ;)
Spades
-
Oh, perhaps I did manage to do it. I realise I've been looking at the subject line for each post, not the overall topic at the top. D'oh!
-
Yes, you probably did. All good.
Spades
-
Not sure whether to change this topic to uncompleted, so I have and hope that's the right thing to do.
I have just discovered John Campbell on the WW2 ballot list for NZ published Dec 1942. I'm pretty sure it's him as he's in Taipuha, and listed as a steam shovel driver. Having found out what a steam shovel is, I would think that would qualify him to drive a shunting train too.
I looked up the NZ service records and they are coy about charges. Anyone can ask for the service record of someone who's died, but they don't say what the cost would be to provide a copy of the record (if they had one). Does anyone know what the ball park figure is for such a thing? Not for medals, just for the service record.
-
Morning Val,
I've moved this topic back to the main Board.
Regarding costs, I think it depends on how many pages are in the file that have to be copied.
I would just bite the bullet and pay anyway, as the file will contain a wealth of information.
Spades
-
last I heard was we could get one WW2 record free per year.
Why not email them quoting his number etc and ask for a quote
http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/personnel-records/nzdf-archives/how-to-find-contact-us.htm
Cheers Janette
-
Hi all
I have a copy of a statement of Service from NZR for a relative who was employed from 1898 until 1920.
It makes interesting reading with the pay each week and the last comment
"Dismissed for deliberately refusing to obey orders"
It came from the Wellington Archive Office.
Flowery
-
Hi there, and welcome to Rootschat!
Did you mean to add your post to this thread? It can be merged if so.
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=828317.0
-
I havent been on the site for years and have forgotten how to reply, etc. need to learn again. Had to change name etc. so all new again.
Gay
-
Thanks Spades and Janette, I will enquire, and pass this info on to the NZ relatives. Will be easier for them to pay in any case, with local currency.
-
Out of interest, why was it called a ballot list? Were names drawn out of a hat?
Also what age groups were called up in NZ? I have enquired using Janette's link to see if the dob matches and it is the correct person, but if it is the person I want, he would have been in his mid-forties. Perhaps he volunteered? My grandfather volunteered late in WW2 in the UK when he was in his late forties, prompted by the death of one of his sons. Looking at his service record it seems he was shipped off somewhere in the background, rather than to very active active service.
-
Hi Flowery, and welcome back :)
I have merged your new topic with Val’s, as I suspect that you were trying to reply to it when you posted.
If that wasn’t your intention please reply and I’ll find a spanner. ;)
Spades