new name old boy back again

jules · Post by **jules** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 10:47 am

Jules - you must know Bob Tiller. Last I heard of him I believe he had moved to Freightliner, probably 5 years ago.

Yes I know Bob Tiller alright! We were talking just yesterday in fact. He was with FGW for a long time, project managing the HST MTU re-engine program. When that finished, he transferred to First GB Railfreight as Fleet Engineer, so since First sold GB Railfreight a year or so ago, Bob is actually working for Eurotunnel now, who bought GBRf. He got divorced a couple of years ago and is now living back in London.

As I write this, I am actually waiting for John Cronin to come round for a cup of tea!

Does anyone on this thread know Clive Burrows?

jules · Post by **jules** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 11:52 am

While we're on this subject, does anybody remember the shunters based at Lawrence Hill? Their names were Bert and George and they lived in the little brick cabin under the Midland Line overbridge (only demolished a few years ago). They were probably on your payroll Robin, I am guessing? I'd love to find out their surnames if anybody remembers.

They didn't range far towards the end (late 60s). Their duties appeared to be Lawrence Hill - Stapleton Road scrap metal sidings - Ashley Hill, with coal and bricks. I only once saw them take off to the North from Ashley Hill, presumably for a rare trip to Stoke Gifford. If anyone remembers these workings from Lawrence Hill, I'd be fascinated to learn more details. There were daily trips six days a week early morning and quite often an afternoon working about 4pm.

One other very old gentleman I also remember was called Bill ? and he was based at Ashley Hill yard. He was the "checker" and was responsible for labeling wagons and completing all the paperwork.

The brick traffic (which was considerable) came from London Brick at Peterborough and presumably was block worked to Lawrence Hill. Not sure where the coal traffic came from, but there were five or six coal merchants based at Ashley Hill (one being Mr Hoare) who always kept the yard busy. There were frequent arguments between old Bill the checker and the coal merchants, mostly about where wagons had been positioned

The brick lorry drivers appeared much more professional and never gave Bill any trouble.

the green mile · Post by **the green mile** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 12:26 pm

Woke up this morning and suddenly remembered Chris Holland who was apprenticed as a fitter and went on to become a big noise in the class 50 preservation movement.

Two other names connected to Bath Road but not actually employees:-

Michael Redfern was the Railway Chaplain circa 1980. I believe he emigrated. Hopefully not as a result of the flock he had to deal with at Bath Road

Julian Gange-Harris was the Provident Mutual rep who sold investment and savings policies to railwaymen. Used to set himself up in the mess room to do his business. Got me my first mortgage through his contacts at a time when the building societies had nothing to lend. Still around but now representing the Engineman's Assurance Society.

Jules, very sorry to hear that about Bob T. If you see him again, tell him that 'Dover Priory Platelayers Hut' sends his regards. He will know who I am. In fact, if you can pass on my e-mail address, I would love to hear from him again.

That's:- hengistpod@live.co.uk

I first knew Clive Burrows when he was an STO running the electronics repair shop at Eastleigh. What a phenomenal brain this man has. His career knew no boundaries and he also ended up as Engineering Director for FGW. Signed my long service award certificate over 10 years ago. I believe he ended up as the Engineering supremo for First and went to the Department of Transport at some point. Haven't seen him for about 5 years

the green mile · Post by **the green mile** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 12:33 pm

Divorce! That reminds me of a conversation I had on the footplate at Swanage a few years back. The fireman I was chatting to used to work suburbans out of Kings X in the 50's - N2's and all that. Apparently, when he retired and carried on working as a volunteer at Swanage, his wife gave him an ultimatum. "It's either me or your damned steam trains, take your pick". So he did!

jules · Post by **jules** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 1:30 pm

"It's either me or you damned steam trains, take your pick". So he did!

That reminds me of a country and western song I heard in the USA:

"My best pals run off with my wife - How I miss him so!"

jules · Post by **jules** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 1:40 pm

Jules, very sorry to hear that about Bob T.

He has, er, never been happier!

I'll pass your mail address onto him for sure.

Your info is correct re: Clive Burrows. We quite often see him down on the West Somerset - he owns our two Class 33s.

Robin Summerhill · Post by **Robin Summerhill** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 3:07 pm

jules wrote:While we're on this subject, does anybody remember the shunters based at Lawrence Hill? Their names were Bert and George and they lived in the little brick cabin under the Midland Line overbridge (only demolished a few years ago). They were probably on your payroll Robin, I am guessing? I'd love to find out their surnames if anybody remembers.

Can't help here unfortunately.

In my day the railway Payroll was a very fragmented business, with stations/ depots/ quite small areas doing their own basic thing (ie. completing timesheets, calculating bonus etc) and sending the completed sheets to the Paybill Office (which was on the top floor of Temple Meads Motors building in those days) for computer processing.

When I was in the Paybill Office, most of my time was spent processing the Engineer's payroll for Taunton and all points west, including the ex-LSW line up to the boundary with the Southern. The Engineers had non-salaried (ie weekly paid) timekeepers in each depot who were my contacts.

When I went to Bath Road originally, there was a section containing 4 staff that dealt with the entire Bath Road payroll, and Bath Road only (well, the DMU servicing depot at the Marsh, and the couple of footplate staff still based at Radstock, were also included). After the reorganisation of 1974 Bath Road had two payroll sections - 3 staff downstairs dealing (broadly speaking) with drivers, secondmen and guards respectively, and another payroll section upstairs containing me doing the workshop payroll.

We also only did the payroll for the weekly paid staff and up to the highest grade of non-management supervisory staff (grade E supervisors they were called in those days). Staff in "management grades" (MS1 and above in those days), which meant the running foremen and the "gang of four" upstairs (Len Olver, Terry Henley, Basil Edwards and Ken Watkins) were dealt with elsewhere.

I was also partially employed on payroll during my six months at BTM but, as far as I can recall, that only extended to TM station staff and signalmen in the panel box.

All that is a long way of saying I haven't a clue who did the payroll for Lawrence Hill

Robin Summerhill · Post by **Robin Summerhill** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 3:10 pm

jules wrote: "My best pals run off with my wife - How I miss him so!"

1970s joke - "my wife ran off with my best friend. Only I didn't realise he was my best friend until she ran off with him"

the green mile · Post by **the green mile** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 4:09 pm

...or alternatively:- Now take my wife! I wish somebody would.

The fitter with the hole in his can was George Ellis.

Another fitter circa 1980 was Lee Jewell. A handsome looking chap who resembled Lee Majors who played Steve Austin in the TV series 'The Six Million Dollar Man'. Hence Lee's nickname 'Six Million' or 'Six' for short.

Circa 1970 there was also a fitter called Les who was ex Bath Green Park.

God, how many more of them out there? Does this list ever come to an end? I can think of a fitters mate who was an ex Marsh man but no name springs to mind even though I can see his face under his cloth cap.

the green mile · Post by **the green mile** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 4:18 pm

Thanks for that Jules. I'd really like to chat with the old bugger again. I'm glad he is enjoying life.

Despite living in fairly close proximity, I have never visited the WSR as such. Been through Watchet a few times and visited Dave Cleall's emporium to buy some modelling bits but never took the time to look at the real railway there. I will correct this situation next year when I take my final promotion. That's the one where every day on the roster is a rest day.

Any chances I get to look at heritage railways, I go to Swanage because the Southern is my real love. Unfortunately, it's nearly a 100 mile drive each way so trips are rare, especially now you need a mortgage just to fill up the car.

Pines Alan · Post by **Pines Alan** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 8:10 pm

(The other chap I'd like to know his name used to be one of the announcers at BTM during the '70s.
He was very Bristolian, I can still hear him to this day...

"Bristol Temple Meads, this is Bristol Temple Meads. The train now arrived at Platform)

Was the name of one of the announcers Jack Wheeler?

(Sorry - don't know how to do a "Quote".)

bristolian · Post by **bristolian** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 9:21 pm

bristolian wrote:This thread has left me wondering if anyone can provide a couple of names for me...

Firstly, when my father passed away in November '77, a distant 'relative' - I can't remember his surname - took me to several railway locations, including Bristol PSB. I believe he worked on the signalling side of things.
His name was Peter, and he drove a (I think it was dark blue) Mark 2 Cortina. He lived in Soundwell with his mother.
He once showed me several of his old slides, including steam at Westerleigh (WR) and Coalpit Heath.

The other chap I'd like to know his name used to be one of the announcers at BTM during the '70s.
He was very Bristolian, I can still hear him to this day...

"Bristol Temple Meads, this is Bristol Temple Meads. The train now arrived at Platform..."

Very Best Wishes,
Bob.

Further to my query - I've just remembered the surname of Peter, it is Wride...

the green mile · Post by **the green mile** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 3:30 pm

A few more Bath Road boys:

Steve Carne - stores issuer.

The stores also had a link of van drivers, some of whom progressed up to HGV class 3 standard at the company's expense some time after larger components stopped being delivered by Enparts wagon. (Enparts is a story in itself with many a VBA being lost for days in the 'Severn Tunnel Triangle').

There was a guy called Steve - quiet chap with longish curly hair. And a guy who's surname was Bristow (good local name). I can't remember how many were in this link.

A lad by the name of Colin Parker arrived on the scene as a labourer or mate - younger brother of fitter Graham Parker.

The fitters mate ex the Marsh - sure his name was Pike.

the green mile · Post by **the green mile** » Fri Sep 23, 2011 5:34 pm

The memory bank kicked in again today. The truck driver was Colin Bristow.

More electricians:-

Dick Pugh known to me as Mr Pooh. In the 60's there was a sitcom called The Worker starring Charlie Drake. Unable to hold down a job, Charlie was always at the job centre where the other main character was the manager, Mr Pugh played by !*%?$@ - it will come shortly. Despite numerous attempts at correction, Charlie could never pronounce his name properly and it always came out as Pooh. (Henry Magee!).
Dick was quite a character himself but suffered some serious health problems which resulted in him being accomodated on light duties. I remember the Depot Engineer at the time bought him an electronics kit, a bit like a chemistry set, so he could do some project work with a view to keeping him occupied in that sphere. I imagine he has passed on by now.

Electricians came in two batches. Those who were there for the long haul and those who came and went due to the state of the jobs market outside. The nationalised industries had poor rates of pay and generally poor conditions of service compared to outside industry. When times were good outside, we lost our best guys because they could earn more without shift and weekend work, and in much cleaner conditions. When times were bad, the opposite happened and we recruited some excellent sparkies. Ex Royal and Merchant Navy types adapted very well.

During one of our lean spells when we were desperately short, we took on a guy who we nicknamed Charley Farley (A Two Ronnies character). He came from the building industry and did not seem to have a lot of experience with dc motors. One day he was doing traction motor work on a class 47. He refitted some brush boxes but did not realise that there was supposed to be a gap between the box and the commutator. When the loco was driven out of the shed, there was an almighty bang as the motor flashed over. We still kept him on.

I remember assisting Terry Henley doing interviews for fitters. One chap claimed to be an experienced diesel engine fitter on his application form but didn't seem to be able to answer even the basic questions put to him. On further interrogation, it turned out that the only fitting he had done was to join lengths of oil pipe together. That was a case of "we've one or two others to see, we'll let you know". It was a 'no'.

We took on a labourer once, pending references. These came back with all sorts of coded warnings from a previous employer. It was decided to terminate him there and then. Terry Henley gave me a sealed letter to give to him. He must have guessed what it contained because he refused to accept it. Terry came back with me and 'presented' it to him personally which was then followed by a nose to nose stand off which Terry eventually won. On the way back, Terry as ever was forthcoming with wordly advice. "When you're in a situation like that and it's turning ugly" he said, "just remember that your knee is only 9 inches away from his nuts". That's what I really liked about Terry, a real rough cut man of the world. He wasn't known as the 'Bath Road Monster' for nothing.

the green mile · Post by **the green mile** » Fri Sep 23, 2011 5:38 pm

Almost forgot electrician John Corkhill - one of the long term hands and a really nice chap. When I am back next, I will relate a humorous story regarding John's wife during the maintenance staff strike in the late 70's.
(Got to write this down as a reminder in case I forget).