Overview of the Songs and Poems in this Category:
May of the poems in this section were written by railway workers and informed by their personal experience.
The railway worker and poet Alexander_Anderson¹ was the author of bar291, 687, 690 and 693
Main Themes and Motifs
- The dangers of the work
Chronology
1860-69
1870-79 291; 687; 690; 693
1880-89 102;
1890-99 225; 252; 579
1900-09 566; 569
1910-19
Uncertain: 300; 723
Historical Background:
People on the trackside have always been in more danger than passengers or footplate men.
Of all the lineside workers shunters¹ were the most vulnerable.
The Midland Railway company, for example, kept an ambulance wagon permanently stationed at Toton Marshalling Yard near Nottingham to give treatment to injured shunters.
During 1912, one in ten shunters was killed or injured.
Track workers (variously known as platelayers, or surfacemen) were frequently hit by trains. It is surprising to the modern ear that they did not hear the trains coming but steam locomotives are surprisingly quiet when coasting.