Posted in Railway advice Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011
In the February of 1962 I was 16 and had been out firing for around 9 months when I was upgraded from Past Cleaner to Fireman. Guildford Depot operated a policy of not allowing those under 18 to work nights (between 22.00 – 06.00) so on appointment as a Fireman I was placed in the “Old Mans Gang” which was made up of Drivers over sixty who no longer wanted to work nights at the end of their railway career.
Having a regular mate was a bit like being in a forced marriage; it could be heaven or hell depending on the personalities of those working together. The footplate is roughly eight foot wide by about six foot deep and as a sixteen year old you had to share this area with some one as old as your Great Grandfather for up to eight hours a day.
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