Engine Driver -Warrington

[martin56]

I am trying to find out some info on my great granfather James Silcock (Engine Driver) of 267 Warrington Rd.He worked for the London Nth West Railway.

In Dec 1911 age 45 he died on a three day freight trip to Carlie?(not sure how its spelt or where this is) his fellow workers paid for his burial.

I would like to now if there would be any work place records or perhaps a local
paper that may have any info on this.(preferably on line as i am in South Australia)

Any help much appreciated !

Martin.

[stanmapstone]

It is probably Carlisle, Google will show you where it is 

Stan

[Redroger]

Some of the staff records for the LMS railway, and its predeccessors of which the LNWR was one are in the National Archives at Kew. Though incomplete this is the most comprehensive holding of railway staff records in the UK.

[martin56]

Thanks Redroger

I will have a look.

[Redroger]

In the pre WW1 rail era there was much "Lodge working" when a train crew signed on duty at their own depot, and were then required to lodge away from home for an overnight, or several nights. Luckily this type of working has been very much reduced on the UK railways, but not quite eliminated.

[Wilton Endeavour]

Martin,

I would agree with Stan on it being Carlisle. There is a large railway freight yard just to the North of Carlisle railway station known as Kingmoor Yard. And at Warrington, there is a freight yard just to the South of Warrington Bank Quay railway station.  A lot of the original lines will have gone since 1911, but these freight yards still exist today.

yours

Wilton Endeavour   

[Henry7]

Hi Martin -

You say James Silcock lived in Warrington Road, but was this in the town of Warrington? 

Warrington is midway between Liverpool and Manchester, and was on the London & North Western Railway - the most important railway in Britain in those days - whose main line ran from London north for 300 miles to Carlisle, near the border with Scotland.  From Warrington to Carlisle would be about 120 miles.

The line's still there, by the way, but it's electrified now as part of the so-called West Coast Main Line.

[martin56]

Thanks all
Sounds a long slow trip to Carlisle.
According to James wife he left with a bad cold & would not stay home,he got worse on the trip and had to tell the stoker what to do & died on trip back of Influenza & Cardiac Failure.
The stoker told his wife he did not miss a signal on the trip.

Martin.

[Redroger]

There was no provision for sick pay in that era. The philosophy was work them till they drop, there's plenty more in the dole queue!