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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Female railway cleaners, 1917


RobL

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A nice image I found today, from the KL Taylor Collection, showing female cleaners working on a North Eastern Railway electric locomotive, 1917

nercleaners1917.jpg

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heres a great war pic showing female cleaners at the midland railwar carriage sidings at my home village of Hellifield, in the background is the body of an original midland railway pullman car used as a canteen by the cleaners,

regards,

john.

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From memory the peacetime hierarchy (career progression) was

Cleaner

Cleaner passed Fireman (a cleaner who was allowed to fire an engine as needed)

Fireman

Fireman passed Driver (a fireman who was allowed to drive an engine as needed)

Driver (and 'cock o the bonk')

I suspect though that women were not allowed past cleaner (and cleaning the fire box, smoke box etc was a vile mucky job).

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From memory the peacetime hierarchy (career progression) was

Cleaner

Cleaner passed Fireman (a cleaner who was allowed to fire an engine as needed)

Fireman

Fireman passed Driver (a fireman who was allowed to drive an engine as needed)

Driver (and 'cock o the bonk')

I suspect though that women were not allowed past cleaner (and cleaning the fire box, smoke box etc was a vile mucky job).

From what family members tell me, the road from cleaner to driver could take many years,

John.

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