Hi:
Issue 53 of the Great Western Journal published by Wild Swan had an article
on the Goods Traffic at Stratford-upon-Avon by Chris Turner (page 285-300)
which included the work of the Goods Porters. Other issues of this Journal
have had articles on the same theme.
At 22:31 01/03/2005, Dudley Clark wrote:
>Phil
>
>Two books which may be of some value depending on what time period(s) you
>are interested in. Firstly 'Victorian Railwaymen: The Emergence and Growth
>of Railway Labour 1830-1870' by P W Kingsford, which has several references
>to porters, and probably less useful 'The Railway Workers: 1840-1970', which
>gives a general review of railway staff.
>
>I am researching the employees of the Taff Vale Railway and I have been
>struck by the number of hybrid grades that existed in that company. Porters,
>particularly at small stations, were often jacks of all trades. Strangely I
>haven't come across perhaps the most common of hybrids, the
>porter-signalman, on the TVR, but the following is a list of those I have
>found: Gateman/Porter, Goods Porter, Lamp Cleaner/Porter, Parcels Porter,
>Platform Porter, Porter, Porter/Asst Brakesman, Porter/Asst Guard,
>Porter/Carr Cleaner, Porter/Foreman, Porter/Lamp Cleaner, and
>Porter/Lithographer.
>
>If you are interested in the 19th century I have a reference to an article
>in 'The Railway Signal' in which a goods porter looks back over 30 years
>work at an unspecified major goods station in a big city (?London)
>describing the introduction of hydraulic wagon lifts and other changes. The
>article is not surpisingly religious in character given that the publication
>was the journal of the The Railway Mission, but does describe the daily work
>of the author. The RM archive is now at the NRM and the reference is Vol.I
>No.8 March 1883 pp140-2. Contact Tim Procter at the museum if you wish to
>access it, at [log in to unmask] . Alternatively I could get you a copy
>next time I am in the Reading Room for my own research.
>
>Dudley Clark
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Phil Ashworth" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2005 6:45 PM
>Subject: Railway Porters.
>
>
> > I am looking at the work of railway porters, especially "goods" porters.
> >
> > Can anyone suggest suitable material to help me "read into" the subject?
> > Either book or on the web!
> >
> > All suggestions gratefully received.
> >
> >
> > many thanks,
> >
> > Phil Ashworth
> >
regards
Bill Hillier
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