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Author Topic: Workmen's trains  (Read 3945 times)
Bmblbzzz
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« on: August 16, 2017, 18:36:20 »

In the Filton Bank four-tracking thread, John R posted a link to this: http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/bristol-tm-to-severn-beach.html in which I found a reference to workmen's trains.
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North Filton - opened as Filton (Gloucester Road) on the 9th November 1910. Closed on the 27th September 1915. Reopened 12th July 1926, closing on 22nd November 1964 but remaining in use for unadvertised workmen's services, until finally closing on the 9th May 1986.

What were these workmen's services? Presumably they served Rolls Royce and whatever the company on the Airbus site was called at that time (British Aerospace? Bristol Aircraft Company?). But how did they work? Were they arranged between BR (British Rail(ways)) and large employers, with the employer saying "We have a thousand employees working these shift times, lots of them come in from central Bristol. Please put a train on to take them from Temple Meads"? Who paid for them: employers or the employees using them? If they provided travel at the employer's expense or at a staff discount, how (apart from not being advertised) did BR and/or the employer stop general passengers using them? And how common were they?

Thanks!
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stuving
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« Reply #1 on: August 16, 2017, 18:48:10 »

Disused Stations has a slightly longer version which says this (inter alia):
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The passenger service was withdrawn completely from Ashley Hill, Horfield, Henbury and Chittening on 23rd November 1964. Other stations continued to offer goods facilities until 5th July 1965, when the west to north curve at Filton also closed.

North Filton Platform also closed to the public on 23rd November 1964, but continued to be used by a Monday to Friday (BHX (Bank Holiday excepted (on timetables))) unadvertised workers service until 5th November 1966. At some time after that date a timetabled workers service ran between Parson Street, Bedminster, Bristol Temple Meads, Lawrence Hill, Stapleton Road and Filton (Junction). The service continued unadvertised between Filton & North Filton Platform.

For an unadvertised part route I imagine an announcement like "All change here. This train will serve only a private company platform after this."
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JayMac
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« Reply #2 on: August 16, 2017, 18:51:10 »

It's pissible they were unadvertised (except by the relevant employers to their staff) stops on normal passenger service trains.  

Edit: Ah, what stuving said!
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Bmblbzzz
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« Reply #3 on: August 16, 2017, 19:19:50 »

Thanks.  Smiley
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Adelante_CCT
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« Reply #4 on: August 16, 2017, 19:30:40 »

It's pissible that bnm meant to say possible
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JayMac
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« Reply #5 on: August 16, 2017, 19:32:51 »

Briefly pissessed by Officer Crabtree it seems.
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« Reply #6 on: August 16, 2017, 21:44:38 »

Different - but Workmen's trains a hundred years ago in the London area were services that carried people in to London very early - before the peak.  They were intended to level out the load, and / or encourage people on lower paid jobs to live further out. 

I doubt that TOCs (Train Operating Company) would feel it worthwhile running such a scheme to socially engineer today, as it wouldn't be worth them social engineering for a 7 to 10 year franchise, and I doubt whether the government would specify it. But you could probably achieve the same effect by making off peak tickets / off peak seasons valid on trains scheduled to arrive at their London terminal by 07:15.
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didcotdean
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« Reply #7 on: August 16, 2017, 22:14:37 »

Workmen's trains operated in several other areas in the original GWR (Great Western Railway) area (and some into BR (British Rail(ways)) WR days). Services to South Wales collieries, to Plymouth dockyards, and into Swindon for the works for example. Some were on what were otherwise just freight lines into the facilities.
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Western Pathfinder
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« Reply #8 on: August 16, 2017, 22:19:27 »

It's pissible they were unadvertised (except by the relevant employers to their staff) stops on normal passenger service trains.  

Edit: Ah, what stuving said!

Good moaning Justin.
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Noggin
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« Reply #9 on: August 17, 2017, 10:09:55 »

Not sure, but the Morris works at Cowley were another example.

Remember that back in the day the railways had an obligation to carry pretty much anything in terms of freight at regulated prices, and with passengers it was quite normal to have special charter trains for excursions, children going back to boarding schools etc. I remember a school trip in the early 1980s where we went from Sheffield to York on a school trip and had a whole carriage reserved for us.

I believe that in Sheffield some of the works had their own tram sidings, for example Hadfields, which was one of the big steel works.
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CyclingSid
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« Reply #10 on: August 18, 2017, 12:02:15 »

Lympstone Commando is possibly in this category, although you would need to be a braver man than me to try calling a Royal Marine a workman.
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« Reply #11 on: August 18, 2017, 16:22:00 »

It could be argued the 17:40 from Maidenhead is a "workers train" it is specially targeted at that time for one of the offices in Maidenhead to allow their staff to commute to and from London
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WSW Frome
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« Reply #12 on: August 19, 2017, 11:40:57 »

When I and a large contingent used to commute to school in the 1960's from Weymouth to Dorchester (West initially, later South) we were provided with a special train, not shown in the public timetable. This was both morning and afternoon and involved a number of light engine moves Weymouth to Dorchester and v/v. So possibly not cost effective even then. Naturally these services were mainly steam hauled until the end of Southern steam and became typically Class 33 duties later.

Anyone in the know could catch this service at the relevant stops.  Various forms of this service prevailed until the early 1970's when school re-organisation reduced the travel demand. 
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Bmblbzzz
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« Reply #13 on: August 19, 2017, 12:03:55 »

Who paid for that, WSW? Did you get a ticket in the normal way (or a season ticket I suppose as it was a commute) or was it free to anyone in school uniform? Or something else? I know that one school in Bristol has an arrangement currently where pupils get subsidised seasons and just have to show their school ID, no need to buy a ticket. But I'm guessing you didn't have actual school ID cards back then.  Cheesy
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WSW Frome
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« Reply #14 on: August 19, 2017, 12:54:05 »

We were provided with a Scholar Season Ticket. Free to us, but paid for by the Local Education Authority, namely Dorset CC. The ticket even had a price on it, perhaps something like 17/6 per term! We used to have the ritual of collecting the season from Weymouth Station on the day before each term. The season could also be used on any normal service which gave us great flexibility to travel when we wished and for "leisure" pursuits as well.

This gave us a great advantage over the girls school in Dorchester where the transport was by dedicated coaches only.

I doubt much of the ticketing scenario applies today. However, if the LEA is under an obligation to provide transport then something similar may apply.  This used to be over 3 miles and then rail might be chosen as the provider, if acceptable to the LEA.
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