What was a plate layer

They were usually employed in gangs with a given area of track 'length' to look after. I found a reference to the PRO holding records of platelayers, but it's not for this area of the country so may not be relevant. I don't know whether they were a reserved occupation or not. Post by hq1hitchin » Wed Sep 10, pm Yes, a trackman, working in a gang of perhaps 8 or so men under the leadership of a ganger, looking after a certain 'length' of line. Literally the backbone of the railway, with little available to them in the way of mechanical assistance in those days and often involving arduous and uncomfortable work.

Without decent track, the railways could not, and still cannot, carry on - stand proud, staticgirl! Post by » Wed Sep 10, pm Plate layers were trackmen. The term dates back to the earliest days of the railways when they were known as plateways and were built using short sections of iron bar or angle sections, rather than the rails we know today. All types of railway work were classed as reserved occupations during both wars, but many men chose to join up either through a sense of patriotism and wanting "to do their bit", or because of peer pressure.

Permission to leave railway service was usually but not always granted by management. Some large stations, such as Waverley, have war memorials that list the occupations of the men who died, and they list every imaginable job on the railways. Post by bricam5 » Thu Sep 11, pm During the last war,my mother was a platelayer.

Hello, Am I too late! I have several which seemed to run by generation. I would really like like a copy of the article if it's not too much trouble.

A pm would be fine or let me know if you want to send my email. Thanks in advance. I've sent you links to them - if there's a problem viewing them will you pm me your email and I'll resend them? Hi Browneyes, If it's not too late, may I have a copy of the article please. On census my gt. By census he's moved from Winchfield to Feltham, presumably working on the new marshalling yard.

It would be good to compare his wages in the '80's with that of Ag. Regards, Tim. I've sent a pm to you with a link to the article Tim. Browneyes, Got it -thanks for such a quick response. Hi can I have a copy of the article as well? I have two plate layers in separate branches, one in Northumberland and one in Lincolnshire. Erlang, I'm not sure if I sent it to you or not so I'll send it by pm in case I didn't. If not just let me know and I will.

Hi I have just read your thread and i have a great grandad that was a plate layer in Swindon, please could you send it over to me. Yes please we have plate layers who worked on the electric tramways in Halifax in my tree.

So would love to see this description thank you Lynne. Could I take up your kind offer. My Great Grandfather was a platelayer. Thanks Geoff.

Many thanks for the pictures. Kind Regards Geoff. Hi just what i was looking for, my ancestors worked on the salisbury and dorset junction railways as platelayers and railway servants i would be very interested to know what the wages were for that period. I am new to this site, but I would be interested to read about the duties etc of a Plate layer as my Great Grandfather was a Platelayer on the Settle- Carlisle line.

Hi Browneyes Yes am interested , also have relations who where platelayers thanks Derek. Hi Browneyes , Please may I have a copy too , as I have a few platelayers. Hi I had relatives called Herbert Brazier and Thomas Brazier who on census show them working as platelayer, they lived in Romford. Do you have anything on them please? Hi BexyBraz, Did you want to see the newspaper article or were you searching for individuals information?

Hello all, I have two ancestors father and son who were platelayers, both had the nickname "Tinnie". Anyone know if this was a common nickname given to platelayers or did it perhaps have some other origin entirely?

I would like a copy please because my grandfather was a platelayer in Cornwall. Hi I was actually looking for information on Herbert and Thomas Brazier. Can I bother you for a copy of the info? Hullo Browneyes I am interested in a copy of the Graphic relating to Platelayers. Obviously it has been said previously but this occupation runs in families. Father to son is not uncommon.

I am interested in the difference between the duties etc of Surface Repair Man and the Platelayer. They "lived" in the Summit Cottages at Beattock Summit. Only 3 or 4 Cottages and landscape like the Russian Steppes!

Hello Browneyes I am interested in a copy of the Graphic relating to Platelayers, Also I am interested in the difference between the duties etc of Surface Repair Man and the Platelayer. Some members have extensive layouts. Some have end-to-end layouts.

Other members are interested in the historical aspects of British Railways. Narrow gauge is also popular. Platelayers Platelayers laid and maintained railway track. Once a railway was built by contractors, the railway company employed platelayers who worked in gangs under a ganger - he would be a foreman or chargeman in other industries. Each gang was responsible for the maintenance of a particular length.

Nowadays railways are usually closed for a period for relaying track over a substantial section but in the 19th Century it was common for rails to be replaced one at a time between trains - a dangerous practice as it turned out when a ganger misread the timetable for a boat-train whose times changed daily according to the tide - said train arrived unexpectedly when a new rail had not been completed fastened in place - result, disaster!

The term dates from pre-railway times. The predecessors of railways were plateways. They worked like railways but used iron or wooden plates with a vertical flange on the inside or the outside, the wagon wheels having no flanges.

If you think about it, this made points switches difficult. Later tramways or railways tram is a contraction of the name of the Derbyshire engineer Benjamin Outram used inside-flanged wheels and unflanged rails.

Any words of wisdom Paul on what a Shunter Points might be? That was my great Grandfather's occupation in His obituary stated that he was a late L.

R Inspector Jeanette x. Methinks that in a large shunting yard, where they assemble groups of trucks into a Train, the trucks would be given a shove by a loco, and would be free running into the siding.