any help ??

[GRACELAND]

   hi,,i,m off to kew latter in may ,
  I have a great uncle on 1901 census living in Stretford Lanc  an was an ENGINE DRIVER  (i hope this means train driver ?)   when at  Kew  i would like to find if there are any records on him as a driver ?  But where do i look /what do i look at ??   all i have is census info any thoughts
 

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi

There is a Railway Ancestors Family History Society



The above image was taken from e-bay where a lot of their journals on cd are sold for the standard price

For more information on the Society

Railway Ancestors FHS
CONTACT: Mr Jeremy Engert, Lundy, King Edward St, Barmouth, Gwynedd LL42 1NY
WEB-SITE: www.railwayancestors.fsnet.co.uk

Chris in 1066Land

[Gardener]

Hi. I wouldn't assume that "engine driver" means train. I have seen this phrase for someone who in previous and subsequent census entries was working in a brickworks. Also I have one entry for 1901 which says " factory engine driver". I suspect that trains as such don't always come into it though I suppose that large factories might have had their own light railway systems before the fork-lift truck? Hopefully someone can clear this up properly for us all.

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hopefully someone can clear this up properly for us all.

1901 Census - 11 Stanway Street, Stretford, Lancs.

BALLARD Richard, Head, Marr, 31  RAILWAY ENGINE DRIVER, born Leintwardine, Herefordshire
               Alice, Wife, Marr, 33, born Leintwardine
               Henry, Son, Unm, 2, born Stretford.

I rest my case.  

Chris in 1066Land              

[Al]

Oooh don't you just hate a smart alec. Well done Chris

In defence of gardener though I have also come across other engine drivers who have worked in factories. I presume it was the name given to those who tended the new fangled steam engines of the day which replaced the water wheels.

[Kazza]

No,  I just love a smart alec.  They can help you break down all sorts of brickwalls and dead-ends.

Kazza.

[suey]

 
I'll add my two pennyworth if I may ..

My Great Grandpa was an Ag. Lab. till 1881 and was then described as an Engine Driver, I got all excited thinking he'd gone to work on the railway but by 1891 he was a plain Ag Lab again !  So I assume he was probably having a play with a steam thresher or something similar.

Suey

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi Suey

Between 1881 and 1900, lots of Steam Traction Engines went around the coubtry towing equipement, especially at Harvest Time.
My grandparents in Cambridgeshire did just that - plus there were often 'Stationary Engines' on many farms, used exclusively for motive power for farm machinery.
They all had a stoker and/or driver to keep them operational.

Chris in 1066Land