Engine Drivers

There is a fairly extensive biographical literature on engine drivers. There are a few autobiographies in the form of books (either written by themselves or with the assistance of professional writers) and there are the footplatemen who became general writers notably McKillop and the Essery brothers. R.H.N. Hardy also wrote extensively about the footplatemen whom he encountered as he rose from being a fitter who enjoyed riding on the footplate to becoming in charge of large motive power depots. The Railway Magazine during the 1940s included a series Top Link Drivers based on about four photographs per issue with very brief biographical notes: Issue No. 570 included Numbers 78 to 81 Vaughan in his Grub, water & relief includes anecdotes on drivers back to the beginning of the broad gauge. Some important material is contained in Gooch's diaries and in Joy's diaries..

Adair, James
Pullman link driver on G&SWR. Drove Royal Train from Renfrew to Glasgow for 1888 Exhibition. Locomotive Mag., 1926, 32, 331-2. . David L. Smith Tales of the Glasgow and South Western Railway

Adams, Jimmy
Of St. Enoch: worked the diner 13.30 to Carlisle for St. Pancras and the return working which left St. Pancras at 13.30. David L. Smith Railway Wld., 1979, 40, 618

Addison, Thomas A. (LMSR)
Began railway career at Nuneaton in 1906, transferred to Leicester mpd in 1925 and promoted to driver in 1928. Served in ROD on the footplate in France during WW1. Top link drivers, No. 81.. Rly Mag., 1947, 93, 226-7.

Aitken, James
Driver on locomotive No. 602 which hauled Royal train onto Forth Bridge for opening ceremony on 4 March 1890. NBR Study Gp. J., 1983 (18), 9-12

Allan, John
Ex-Dunfermline Provost John Alllan was the son and grandson of railwaymen. His father was born in 1850 and joined the railway at Alloa as a porter when aged in his twenties. His maternal grandfather, James Ellis, was a waggon shop foreman at Burntisland in 1848. His brother James was a driver at Burntisland and later shed foreman at Perth and Thornton.
John Allan was born in 1882 and began work aged 11½ in 1894 firing a stream crane for the contractor for Methil Docks, Sir John Jackson. In 1897 he became an engine cleaner at Thornton Junction on constant night-shift work. In 1899 he passed out as a fireman, and in November 1906 a driver. In 1920 he became a locomotive inspector stationed at Thornton. In 19237 he was promoted to district locomotive inspector at Burntisland. He retired in 1946. He was Provost of Dunfermline and his memories are encapsulated in this series. NBRSG Journal, 1998 (71), 36. Photographs and fuller biography which shows that he was an NUR man who travelled to Russia in 1922. NBRSG Journal (104) 26

Allsopp, V.
Midland Railway driver at Derby: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Almond, Michael John (GWR)
Aged 15 in 1822. Began employment on pumping engines. Very calm practical man. Probably arrived on GWR with the Sharp Roberts Lion. Involved in a collision between West Drayton and Slough with Appleby's North Star through negligence of a policeman called BroomheadGreat physical strength and stamina. Survived severral tyre failures. Allocated Great Britain of the Iron Duke class in July 1847. Gained nickname of Mad Sandy. Regularly drove at 80 mile/h and on 11 May 1848 drove the 53 miles from Paddington to Didcot in 47½ minutes: an evarage of 67 mile/h. He became Foreman of Paddington shed and retired in 1873. Vaughan, A. Grub, water & relief: being tales of the Great Western, 1835-1892. (1985). Summers. Early footplate days... Backtrack, 1993, 7, 300. 

Andrews, Bill
Photographed alongside Merchant Navy class No. 35026 on down Golden Arrow at Victoria Steam Wld, 1993, (74) 34

Appleby, Harry (GWR)
Dour, surly Geordie: regular driver of North Star.. Vaughan, A. Grub, water & relief: being tales of the Great Western, 1835-1892. (1985).

Axon, John
Born in Heaton Norris on 4 December 1900. Died 4 February 1957. Joined LNWR 12 December 1919 and became a driver on the LMS. He died as a hero when the steam brake pipe fractured on the 8F he was driving. He told his fireman to jump off, but he stayed on to warn of the appoach of his uncontrollable freight train on the decent to Chapel-en-le-Frith where he was killed. He was awarded the George Cross. The Ballad of John Axon was produced by Euan MacColl and Peggy Seeger. ODNB entry by Philip Carter. Memorial in NRM see Humm J. Rly Canal Hist. Soc., 2015, 38, 252. See also Jeffrrey Wells in Backtrack, 2008, 22, 387 and Andrew Dow in Steam World, 2005 (221) 28.

Barfield, A. (Tony)
Author of When there was steam: memories of a Western Region fireman. 1976

Barker, J.W.
Midland Railway driver at Stourton: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Barlow, Bernard
Born 1922. Didcot engineman. Didcot: Wild Swan, 1984. Obviously a driver of first class passengers as book is rather rare and expensive

Barnes, J.W. (GER/LNER)
Began as cleaner at Stratford 0n 27 September 1899, made a driver in July 1919. During WW1 worked as fireman on trains through to LTSR, LSWR and SECR. He worked many Royal Trains and other important specials. Employed as Acting Inspector frequently. Maintained a record of each day's work, including the number of locomotives worked on. Portrait. Top link drivers, No. 107. Rly Mag., 1949, 95, 309..

Baron, Thomas
Born on 5 April 1835 at Adlington, Lancashire. Became a cleaner at Preston LNWR shed in 1855 where he beacme a fireman and was moved to Crewe in October 1861 and in September 1862 to Abergavenny where he became a driver for fifteen years until being promoted to night foreman. He kept a diary which is kept in the National Archive. See E. Talbot and H. Jack (compilers) A London & North Western Railway engineman at work: the Diary of Thomas Baron 1855 - 1862. London & North Western Railway Society, 2019 wih Edward Talbot as author & Harry Jack (contribution): reviewed by AD in Backtrack, 2020. 34, 253, Simmons' Express train.

Barter, H.C.
Fireman on River class involved in Sevenoaks disaster of 24 August 1927. He was unconscious for two days following accident.

Beale, Donald
The footplate work is recorded in a thoughtful contribution by Neil Burgess in the defunct LMS Journal No. 38 p. 42 et seq Somerset and Dorset: Somerset and Dorset Footplate Memories from the Pen of Donald Beale 1996. Keith Miles notes importance of Beale's comments on SDJR 2-8-0s

Beers, A.T.
Midland Railway driver at Wigston: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Beeson, Ray
Based at Guildford which he joined in 1950 as a cleaner. Worked on M7, U and Q classes and progressed to fireman and driver: noted that stopping freights especially on hilly routes called for skill. Quinn, Tom. Tales of the old railwaymen. pp. 104-14.

Beet, Alfred Leslie
Born in Nottingham in October 1904. Began work as a cleaner in about 1918 at Colwick and promted to driver in about May 1941. Backtrack, 2017, 31, 753

Begg, Sandy
Born in Kintore; started work as a cleaner at Kittybrewster; worked on NBR 0-4-0STs at Leith Docks, frove K3 class and finished on Glasgow Blue Trains. Quinn, Tom. Tales of the old railwaymen. pp. 168-78.

Berridge,  F. 
Midland Railway driver at Bedford: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Bird, Terry

Bishop, F.C. (LMS)
Queen Mary  of the iron road, as told to M.C.D.Wilson and A.S.L. Robinson. (1946): A "ghosted" autobiography of Driver Bishop — the driver who accompanied the Coronation Scot to the New York World's Fair. See also Essery, R.J. and Harris, N. LMS reflections: a collection of photographs from the Hulton Picture Company. 1986.: Contains several pictures of locomotive "6220" with bell and headlight and of Driver F.C. Bishop and Fireman J. McKinnon Carswell whilst on exhibition at Euston prior to trip (page 55). Bishop drove the special train organized for the Institution of Locomotive Engineers for their summer meeting in Glasgow: Locomotive Mag., 1938, 44, 206..

Blackett, Tom
Carlisle fireman who worked as "extra fireman" on No. 6100 Royal Scot on its North American tour in 1933. Locomotive Mag., 1934, 40, 20 or Backtrack, 2015, 29, 134.

Blair, Donald
Fireman on high pressure locomotive No. 6399 Fury which suffered boiler explsion at Carstairs on 10 March 1930: he jumped from footplate and was slightly injured. See Carney

Blanchard, T.J.
Midland Railway driver at Bourne: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Bollard, George
Driver at Wellingborough; also his sons Charlie annd Bernard. Incident of push & pull which ran away recounted by Thorley page 49

Bolster, Philip
See Locomotive Mag., 1908, 14, 110

Bowker, Thomas
Retired April 1922 having worked at Vauxhall, Mnument Lane, Walsall and Dudley. Father (Christian name not yet known) shown on photograph of McConnel single No. 189 at Vauxhall shed in Locomotive Mag., 1923, 29, 191.

Bray, Tommy (Thomas Henry)
Born 27 My 1898; died 22 December 1966. Fireman on Mallard's record breaking run: in Valkoinen

Brewer, Joe
Driver at Stewarts Lane whon liked speed (ex-Chatham man): Steam Wld, 1993, (74) 34

Brock, Peter
Carlisle-based from a railway family: latterly worked at the Canal MPD: Hazardous experiences (blowback, collisions) Railway Wld., 1985, 46, 6). Firing fitted freights on the Waverley Route. Railway Wld, 1982, 43, 62-71. Author of book Calling Carlisle Control: tales of the footplate. Ian Allan, 1990. 112pp. reviewed by ERJ in Backtrack, 1991, 5, 243

Brooker, Frank
Possibly born 1888; joined LNWR 1904; firing from 1907; driving from 1919. Retired 1953. Drove rebuilt Scot on Southern Region during 1948 locomotive exchanges. See also Norman Harvey. Locomotive causerie: recollections of Driver Frank Brooker. Railway World, 1960, 21, 227-30; 253 (includes portrait) See also Harvey: Railway Wld., 1968, 29, 358

Brooks, Arthur
Driver at Ipswich shed and member of ASLEF LDC. Portrait Steam Wld., 1995 (102), 33

Brown, Geoff
Riding the midnight hour: drama, excitement and fun on the footplate, 1914-54. Didcot: Author, 1958.

Bruce, Sam
Portrait of him on front end of NBR Atlantic showing kilted child the Worthington feed pump: see NBRSG Journal, 2009, (105), 37  

Burgess
Born on a Shropshire farm in 1852. Started work at Crewe in 1866, and took part in the Anglo-Scottish races of 1895 as a top-link driver, retiring in 1922 as footplate inspector for the Crewe-Carlisle line. Burgess Working with LMS steam

Burgess, W.L.
Midland Railway driver at Shoeburyness: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921.Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Burns, Maurice

Bushell, George

Buss, F.H.
Driver involved in the Sevenoaks disaster of 24 August 1927 and very reliable witness at Pringle Accident Enquiry. See also Fireman Barter.

Byford, Harry
Camden driver who during the Locomotive Exchanges of 1948 attained 88 mile/h near Hook on an up express from Exeter to Waterloo. See Harvey: Railway Wld., 1968, 29, 358

Cage, Arthur
Based at Ipswich, but one of the star performers on the Cromer Expresses in the 1890s when oil firing assisted in achieving timings of 175 minutes for the 138 miles. See Locomotive Mag., 1936, 42, 264-6. C.J. Allen puts a footplate trip with him on the famous Norfolk Coast Express non-stopo from Liverpool Street to North Walsham ahead of everything else. Railway Wld, 1968, 29, 346

Carr, John
Driver on the Dublin & South Eastern Railway see letter from him in Locomotive Mag., 1946, 52, 112

Carr, T.H.
Midland Railway driver at Kettering: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Carswell, J. McKinnon (LMS)
Essery, R.J. and Harris, N. LMS reflections: a collection of photographs from the Hulton Picture Company. 1986.: Contains several pictures of locomotive "6220" with bell and headlight and of Driver F.C. Bishop and Fireman J. McKinnon Carswell whilst on exhibition at Euston prior to trip (page 55).

Castle, A.T.W.
It was a red-letter day for Driver A.T.W. Castle when locomotive Aden was named, for not only was he selected to man No. 5633 for the ceremony, but it was also his 44th birthday. Driver Castle entered the railway service in 1917 and has been a driver for ten years; in September, 1945, he returned to the L.M.S. after 6 years Army service, in the course of which he became C.S.M. of an Indian Railway Operating Unit, and spent some time at Aden on his way to India. Assisting Driver Castle was Fireman J. Page, who entered the railway service in 1934 and became fireman in 1937. Locomotive Mag., 1946, 52, 132.

Caudle, Samuel Rowland
Born at Avening near Stroud in Gloucestershire: probably joined Midland Railway in South West and moved to Carlisle to work Settle-Carlisle Line. Died in 1922. Unfortunate driver of train which ran into the rear of another train at Ais Gill on 2 September 1913 and subjected to show trail at Carlisle Assizes where even the Judge was critical of his own sentence and led to a Royal Pardon. It seems that drivers were required to lubricate the motion during the climb to Ais Gill in spite of working in the dark and without proper lighting and in this way a key signal was missed. Whole unhappy incident considered in great depth by the late Peter Robinson in Backtrack, 2014, 28, 666 and 2015, 29, 46.  

Chadwick, John
Fireman based at Oxford
16XX Hinksey to Abingdon Great Western Rly J.,2017, 13, 422

Chicken, John GWR)
Perhaps not a good example as not reprimanded for drinking on duty (was the GWR Board occupied by the brewerage?). Vaughan, A. Grub, water & relief: being tales of the Great Western, 1835-1892. (1985).

Clarke, Thomas James
Many lesser authorities omit the "e" from the Clarke, but The Times gave his name when reporting his award of the OBE (issue 13 July 1837). He joined the London & North Western Railway Company (LNWR) in December 1888 in his home town of Crewe, working from cleaner to driver at Crewe North shed. In 1936, the LMS was contemplating a six hour non-stop service between London and Glasgow and needed to ascertain its practicality. On 16 November 1936 a special with No. 6201 Princess Elizabeth at its head, Tom Clarke and Fireman Charles Fleet and Passed Fireman Albert Shaw reached Glasgow Central in 5 hours 53 minutes 38 seconds. The following day they did it again in the reverse direction in 5 hours 44 minutes 14 seconds. On arrival the crew were taken to Broadcasting House and interviewed by the BBC. Driver Tom Clarke and Princess Elizabeth grabbed the headlines and in 1937 Hornby, the famous Liverpool manufacturer of O gauge model railways, choose the locomotive for its most prestigious project. This locomotive was only produced for two years and was not reintroduced after the 1939-45 war. To publicise the new model when it was launched on 1 May 1937, Hornby arranged for a photograph to be taken at Edge Hill depot, Liverpool with two school boys holding a model alongside the real locomotive. Also in the picture were Tom Clarke and his regular Fireman Charles Fleet. He was reported as saying "It's grand" a well-known Crewe expression at the time. Tom Clarke also was involved in the press run of No. 6220 Coronation on Tuesday 29 June 1937 when he set a new speed record of 114 mph on the approach to Crewe and then ran to London in 135 minnutes.Less than a month after claiming the world speed record, on 12 July 1937 Tom Clarke drove the Royal Train from Crewe to Euston. On reaching the terminus, King George VI who had been travelling with Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret summoned Tom from the footplate. Unwashed and still wearing his overalls, the King conferred upon Tom the Order of the British Empire, for his record runs to and from Glasgow in 1936. Tom retired in 1938 and continued to live in Crewe, pursuing his interests in fishing and snooker. He died aged 80 in January 1954, after a short illness. See Internet, Allen British Pacific locomotives and Lcomotive Mag., 1936, 42, 375. 

Clow, Peter
Based at Rugby: drove Precursor No. 7 Titan during trials between LNWR locomotives and LBSCR superheated tank engines: had four brothers who also worked on the footplate. See letter from Albert E. Clow, a nephew in Cape Town. Locomotive Mag., 1946, 52, 48

Cockram, F.
Fireman on 28XX from Swindon for tests on Glenfarg Bank on North British Edinburgh to Perth line in 1921. See Locomotive Mag., 1921, 27, 26

Collins, Bert
Between 1947 and 1956 writer worked on "Big Mets". He was examined by Inspector Mitchell at Top Shed to becoame a passed cleaner. He found it difficult to cope with left-handed shovelling. He, and the next writer, both fired on the freight trains which ran from Highbury Vale up the 1 in 60 gradients to Highgate and then on to Edgware, High Branet and Alexandria Palace, The less favoured individual locomotives were allocated to Hornsey where some locomotives were equipped with Detroit hydrostatic lubricators, rather than the Wakefield type. The Detroit type was located under the fireman's seat and impeded the shovelling path. He discovered that the pull out cock for the injectors was easier to use than the brass wheel and handle type. The Oakleigh Park to Luton working was very popular where it was known as "over the hills and far away". One driver took his twelve bore with him which he used in the fields whilst waiting at Ayot. He greatly enjoyed firing to Driver Bert Sims, who was the ASLEF Branch Secretary, Geoffrey Hughes A Gresley anthology, p. 71

Collis, F.
Worked King George V Funeral Special which left King's Lynn for London behind B17 No. 2847 Helmingham Hall crewed by Driven F. Collis and Fireman E. Foiser of Cambridge depot. Locomotive Mag., 1936, 42, 42.

Compson , A.G.
Midland Railway driver at Kentish Town: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Conduit, Tom
Began engine cleaning at Hereford c1939; moved to Whitland in 1941 and in 1942 became a fireman and moved to St. Philip's Marsh. After a period at Bath Road he moved back to Wales at Carmarthen.Tim Bryan's All in a day's work

Cook, Francis (GWR)
Great grandfather of Adrian Vaughan. Joined GWR at Chippenham as a cleaner in March 1875 when fourteen. He became aa fireman when seventeen at 3/6 per day. Career troubled by excessive drinking. By 1891 he was driving at Southall, but in June 1892 he was fined for putting drink before duty and was dismissed in 1899, but the brewerage took care of him, firstly at Simmon's brewery in Reading an then as landlord of the King's Arms in Wantage.. Vaughan, A. Grub, water & relief: being tales of the Great Western, 1835-1892. (1985).

Coote, Reg.
Joined Southern Railway in 1941: had previously worked on a Thames barge: on page 24 refers to Sammy Jingle presumably Gingell. Quinn, Tom. Tales of the old railwaymen. pp. 16-32.

Cottrell, Tom
Driver ae Ebbw Vale in 194 7: portrayed in.Tim Bryan's All in a day's work

Cowie, William
Died 1939, retired Locomotive Inspector of the Highland Railway. He was 68 years of age and had 48 years' service when he retired in 1936. Cowie had charge of the Royal Train on several occasions between Perth and Inverness, and could boast that he had driven at one time or another almost every engine of the old Highland including singles Nos. 12 and 32. An exception was the Findhorn Branch tank. Portrait with No. 14402, Ben Armin Locomotive Mag., 1939, 45, 123

Cowley, John
Died at West Hartlepool on 31 December 1927 (eve of his eighty-sixth birthday). Born in Ireland on 1 January 1842. Fireman on Stephenson's Locomotion, has recently died at West Hartlepool on the eve of his eighty-sixth birthday. His parents had moved in 1849 to Durham City, and at the age of fourteen years, while working for a contractor at Durham, obtained employment as fireman on Locomotion, which had been lent to the contractor to convey stores from Leamside to Durham. During the Empire Exhibition in 1924, Cowley visited Wembley as a guest of the L.N.E.R, and was photographed on the footplate of the engine of the first passenger train in the world, the engine he fired seventy years previously. Later in life Cowley moved to West Hartlepool, where he worked in a shipyard. See Locomotive Mag., 1928, 34., 39

Cox, Percy
P. Ransome-Wallis. Men of the footplate (1954).

Crone, Wattie
LNER fireman photographed at Craigentinny Carriage Sidings with Scott class. NBRSG Journal, 2020, (141), 7.

Crump, Bob
Long autobiographical letter in Great Western Rly J., 2016, 13, 246. Started work in 1944 at Pontypool Road and glad that he moved elsewhere as was spared working on LNWR locomotives

Curgenven, A.G.  
Midland Railway driver at St. Albans: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Currie, James
Polmadie driver on footplate of Cardean when  on 2 April 1909 it broke driving axle and this led to derailment of train. Allen Railway Wld., 1960, 30, 6-9

Dalglish, Sandy
Based at St. Margarets: photograph with Scott class at Perth. NBRSG Journal, 2020, (141), 5.

Dalling, James
On 6 November Jarnes Dalling;, who had for the previous 21 yeat:s acted as assistant.foreman at Perth South locomotive shed, retired after 44 years of railway service. He joined the service of the Caledonian Ry. in November, 1865, at Holytown Bridge, rose through· the many grades o£ the service, and before being appointed assistant foreman at Perth was one of the drivers regularly selected for the Royal train of QueenVictoria. Dalling took a prominent part in the formation of Mutual Improvement Classes on the system, and on his retirement: a large gathering,of railwaymen, presided over by John Keydon, met in the Palace Hotel, Perth, to present him with a :token of esteem and to wish him prosperity in his retirement. Locomotive Mag., 1909, 15, 222

Davidson, Alexander (Sandy)
An employee of the North Eastern Railway, but at St. Margaret's Edinburgh where he started as a cleaner and became a junior driver there before transfer to Haymarket in 1904. He was a very reliable driver and always ran to time, but never attempted to recover any. He had three Gresley A1 Pacifics allocated to him and took part in the  non-stop Flying Scotsman workings. He retired in 1935. See Knox North British Rly Study Gp J, , 2015 (124) 6

Davidson, George
Went  in 1838 with locomotive Samson from New Shildon to Nova Scotia where he remained. Locomotive Mag., 1935, 41, 247 and Locomotive Mag., 1929, 35, 229 for Davidson on footplate of Samson.

Davies, Walter S.
Of Crewe North depot taken to Perth Royal Infirmary as result of being scalded on footplate of Royal Scot locomotive when boiler pierced by connecting rod on 19.30 Euston to Aberdeen on 28 February 1936. Although badly scalded he brought train to halt. Driver Morris fatally wounded in accident: see Scotsman report

Dawe, Keith
Eastleigh engineman. Southern Way. Special Issue 19. Manchester: Crécy Publications, 2022. 109pp.
Joined staff at  Eastleeigh steam depot in 1961 and lft in 1970. Fireman at Eastleigh during final years of steam. He describes hitting a fallen tree in darkness and extensive damage to S15 locomotive, but both men on footplate escaping injury.

Deal, Bill (BR)
Essery, R.J. and Harris, N. LMS reflections: a collection of photographs from the Hulton Picture Company. 1986.: contains (pp 85-90) "day in life of" Driver Bill Perry and Fireman Bill Deal based on Bletchley for Picture Post in 1949.

Dean, Henry
Fireman on Windsor to Paddington express on 18 July 1898 when connecting rod broke on No. 238 and pierced the boiler barrel.He and Driver Peart applied the brake and stopped the train, but succumbed to their burns.  See Locomotive Mag., 1898, 3, 128.

Dearden, J.
On 18 June 1897 the French Ambassador was driven by Driver Dearden from Dover to Victoria in 85 minutes. See Locomotive Mag., 1897, 2, 113

Deveraux, J.
Bangor driver mentioned in connection with fast running: Locomotive Mag., 1935, 41, 139

Dickson, John
NBR driver from Aberdeen who was killed ln the Burntisland accident on 14 April 1914. His wife said that he had expressed a wish never to kill anyone whilst at  work as an engine driver. (Backtrack, 2023, 37, 308)

Dobson, David
Son of Jimmy (below) driver at Eastfield, then Running Foreman and latterly an Inspector in Glasgow NBRSG Journal, 1991, (43), 4. David was aged 83 in 1991

Dobson, Edward (Ted?)
Based at St. Blazey driver of Castle class on Royal Train 9 May 1956 during Royal Visit to Cornwall see Great Western Rly J., 2017, 13, 423

Dobson, James [Jimmie]
Originated in Tillicoultry where he started work in 1899, but moved to Cowlairs in 1901. In 1906 he was snowbound at Steele Road. In Falkirk Tunnel a rail displaced off another train pierced the cab narrowly missing Dobson. When driving A3 Spearmint in November 1939 he was seriously injured as the train was leaving Polmont by an open carriage door on another train. NBR Study Gp. J., (40), 25 NBRSG Journal, 1991, (43), 4.reveals that Jimmy was a photographer of locomotives, but faiiled to keep his negatives and prints  NBR Study Gp. J., 1990, 39, 24 notes that he drove the train norrmally worked by a Glen 4-4-0..

Dobson, Percy
Skilled driver who drove counter pressure converted NER 4-6-0 see Rly Wld., 1981,42, 540. Acknowledged in ILocoE Paper 441. Present in dynamometer car on Mallard record-breaking run according to Andrews (Backtrack, 2018, 32, 472)

Doncaster, B.
Midland Railway driver at Manningham: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Dougan, Ross
Running foreman at Haymarket. Had started in 1906 as a fireman at St. Margarets. He was stocky and strong and had driven Royal Train conveying King and Queen in 1922. McKillop Enginemen elite.

Drayton, John
Born in 1907. Driver at Pontypool Road. Author of two books: On the footplate: memories of a GWR engineman. (Truro: Bradford Barton, 1976. 112pp) and Across the footplate years. (London: Ian Allan, 1986. 128pp). Also Locomotive Express, 1949, 4, 9. which reprints a report in Yorkshire Evening Press of Drayton speaking at the York Locomotive Society about his footplate Journey on A4 No. 60001 Sir Ronald Matthews from Kings Cross with a 15 coach train

Dron, T.
Gatehead driver who drove Silver Jubilee set to Edinburgh and back on 26 September 1936: Locomotive Mag., 1936, 42, 324

Duddington, Joe (R.J.)
Driver of Mallard  on record breaking run: in Valkoinen

Duff, Robert (GWR)
Driver on standard gauge Shrewsbury & Chester Railway absorbed by GWR in 1854. Went to Egypt in June 1860. Returned to GWR in 1862 and in October 1888 became shed foreman at Corwen.. Vaughan, A. Grub, water & relief: being tales of the Great Western, 1835-1892. (1985).

Earl, Lawrence .A.
Retirement from Camden shed in 1946: Locomotive Mag., 1946, 52, 189. Author of Speeding north with the 'Royal Scot' OUP, 1939 and Engines I have driven Trains Annual, 1948, 81-9.

Ellis, Harry G.E.
Engineman at King's Lynn from 1936, starting as engine cleaner and where his father was a fireman. See Railway World, 1986, 47, 40. Latterly Running foreman at March MPD and before thgat at King's Lynn where new depot had been built just before closure (but did have asbestos cladding). Railway Wld, 1983, 44, 73.

Eltringham, Charles
Son of John (below): a tall strong looking fireman: photographs with father working No. 10000 on pp. 36 and 44 of Brown's Hush-Hush:

Eltringham, John
Father of Charles: photographs with father working No. 10000 on pp. 36 and 44 of Brown's Hush-Hush:

Emmerson, J.
Midland Railway driver at Skipton: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Escott,  B.
Midland Railway driver at Bromsgrove: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Everton, Teddy
Nickname Toffee. Based att Ryecroft shed, Walsall: died in 1956. Territorial army man with prodigeous appetite for beer. Served in South Staffordshire Regiment in WW1.Midland Record, Issue 18 page 78

Falkinder, James
Death of James Falkinder, of New England, Peterborough, who was driver of Great Northern. Ry, 8-ft. single engine, No. 668, for years in 1933. He, with his fireman, John Bean, drove that engine In the memorable race on three nights in August 1895, from King's Cross to Grantham, in 101 minutes. They passed Hatfield in 16¾ minutes and reached Peterborough in 72 minutes. Mr. Bean, now a retired driver, is still living Peterborough. See obituary Loco. Rly Carr. Rev., 1933, 39, 82.

Fearn, Edward (Teddy)
Durran Hill (Carlisle) driver of Compound No. 1008 in 1923/a trials

Fenwick, David
David Fenwick, having mounted the tender to adjust the communication cord, was unfortunately struck by a bridge near Cove and instantly killed when driving No. 779 Breadalbane, the leading engine of the Queen's train from Aberdeen to Perth on the occasion of her journey south on the 21 June 1898. See Locomotive Mag.. 1898, 3, 97.

Floyd
Fireman, from Kings Cross, on non-stop Flying Scotsman see Livesey Locomotive Mag., 1938, 44, 337.

Foiser, E.
Worked King George V Funeral Special which left King's Lynn for London behind B17 No. 2847 Helmingham Hall crewed by Driven F. Collis and Fireman E. Foiser of Cambridge depot. Locomotive Mag., 1936, 42, 42.

Fowler, F.C.
Writer also describes Edgware workings over the sharp gradients, as steep as 1 in 59, and of banking stalled trains out of Gas Works tunnel (where the train was located by the exploding detonators placed at the rear), and of assisting trains which could not restart having come out "the hole", and of the difficulties experinced on the Hotel Curve. The gas-lit Quad-Arts were easier to haul than those with electric lighting.  Geoffrey Hughes A Gresley anthology, p. 97

Friend, Harry
Young Consett driver: working vacuum fitted freight up to Consett on Christmas Eve. Railway World, 1991, 52, 490

Froggatt, Harold
Fireman at Crewe who was also a professional boxer, later wrestler. Left footplate work when diesel traction took over. Noted the large number of lodging turns, the fairly miserable hostels, eating and drinking habits on and off the footplate. Comments on coal pushers on the Stanier Pacifics. The Crewe to Perth job, and one highly memorable return trip where they ran into snow and out of coal at Preston and had to switch to a Class 5 for the final leg to Crewe. Backtrack, 2011, 25, 276.

Gardner, Claude.
Portayed as driver of Pendennis Castle in Tim Bryan's All in a day's work

Gasson, Harold
Series of autobiographical works published OPC: Firing days (1973: Ottley 12009),  Footplate days (1976: Ottley 12010) and Nostalgic days (1980: Ottley 12012). Extracts in John Farrington's Life on the line (1984) and Tim Bryan's All in a day's work

George, Thomas
Driver of North Star on the Liverpool & Manchester Railway. Dawson. Backtrack, 2019, 33, 493-5.

Gibson
Driver of Cardean: anecdote about hot box: Allen Railway Wld., 1960, 30, 6-9 and temperamental nature Railway Wld., 1970, 31, 18.

Gilbert, C.A.
Midland Railway driver at Sheffield: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Gilbertson, William
Carlisle driver who worked No. 6100 Royal Scot on its North American tour in 1933. Locomotive Mag., 1934, 40, 20 or Backtrack, 2015, 29, 134. Retired 14 May 1939 aged 65 (Locomotive Mag., 1939, 45, 154.

Gimbert, Benjamin
Born in Ely on 6 February 1903; died 6 May 1976. Buried Eastswood Road Cemetery in March. Awarded George Cross for his bravery on 2 June 1944 when he risked his life to lessen the impact of a fire in an ammunition train whien he was driving WD 2-8-0 No. 7337. The incident happened at Soham. His fireman James Nightall was killed. See Andrew Dow in Steam World, 2005 (221) 28. and Memorials in Red Lion Square, Soham and in village church and in Community College. The George Cross awarded on 25 Jukly 1945 and the nameplater from No. 47 574 Benjamin Gimbert GC are on display in the March Museum see Humm J. Rly Canal Hist. Soc., 2015, 38, 252  Also RCTS Locomotives of the LNER Part 6B page 133. Also awarded LNER Medal for Gallantry Locomotive Mag., 1944, 50, 180

Gingell, Sam (SR)
Remarkable man mentioned many times by R.H.N. Hardy. Began work on a coal lorry in South London, and then became a coal miner in South Wales, to which he cycled. Joined SECR at Battersea. Never off work for illness. Portrait of Sam pulling a face alongside Sir Harold Macmillan:. McKillop, N. Ace enginemen (1963); Kenneth H. Leech. Rly Wld, 1957, 18, 307. See alsa Cloud anthology

Glover, George
Engineman at Plodder Lane shed (joined in 1942), Bolton then at Patricroft. See Backtrack, 2001, 15, 592

Gourlay, George
Driver involved in Elliot Junction accident and harshly sent to prison for being "drunk" on duty. Accident took place during mismanagement of line during a blizzard. See Nisbet, Alistair. Elliot Junction [accident] 1906. Backtrack, 2005, 19, 455-62.; Major Pringle's Accident Report  (published 20 April 1907) and  Niall Ferguson; The Elliot Junction accident Br. Rly J., 1992, 5, (44) 178 and in Rolt's Red for danger (pp. 121 et seq) and very sympathetically by Hamilton Ellis in his North British Railway and probably by John Thomas.

Gray, A.E.
Midland Railway driver at Saltley: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Gregory, John N.
On footplate of No. 5616 when renamed Malta GC: he had been in Dunkirk evacuation. Holder of Military Medal from WW1. Locomotive Mag., 1943, 49, 159.

Gregory, R.
Midland Railway driver at Wellingborough: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Gregson, Albert
Driver at Doncaster who did running-in trials on new locomotives at Doncaster in 1930s, mainly to London and back: see McKillop

Grose, Albert
Driver working at Hertford East published his own book.

Gulliver, Vinsun
Aged 109 when interviewd by Quinn. Born at Upton in Warwickshire in 1889.  Started work as an engine cleaner on 3 September 1907. Conscientious objector during WW1. Moved to Gorton on the LNER where he served as a driver. Died August 1997. Quinn, Tom. Tales of the old railwaymen. pp. 66-9.

Gumbrill, Bill
Trials driver at Brighton Warks at same time as Fred Rich circa 1949. See Railway Wld., 1983, 44, 62.

Gutteridge, Harry
King's Cross Driver who was at controls on A3 Papyrus when it went north to Newcastle before record southbound run with Sparshatt in charge see Locomotive Mag., 1935, 41, 93.

Hailstone, Ted
See Steam Wld, 1998, (138), 40 for Bradford to Doncaster footplate work on Immingham 4-6-0.

Hall, Donald
Polmadie driver of high pressure locomotive No. 6399 Fury which suffered boiler explsion at Carstairs on 10 March 1930: he remained on footplate and was very slightly injured: and travelled back to Glasgow by train. See Carney

Harris, Walter T.
Began on GWR at Taunton in 1908 as a cleaner, when his parents were living in Wellington. Old Oak Common: P. Ransome-Wallis. Men of the footplate (1954).and Kenneth H. Leech. Rly Wld, 1957, 18, 307. and H.G. Forsythe Men of steam

Harrison, J.W.
Midland Railway driver at Carlisle: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Harry, Evan (GWR)
Boorn in February 1841, joined South Wales Railway at New Milford in 1855. After many adventures involving excessive drinking became the driver of the Malmesbury Railway when the line opened in Deceember 1877 and survived until retirement in January 1908. . Vaughan, A. Grub, water & relief: being tales of the Great Western, 1835-1892. (1985).

Hayden, Joseph "Charlie"
Retired 1949. Nickname Kay Don, after motor racing driver. Noted for high speed running. Probably based at Swindon. Pictured with streamlined King class No. 6010 in Peter Timms In and around Swindon Works.

Haynes, G. H.
Midland Railway driver at Worcester: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Hayton, Brian
Driver of NRM No. 46229 Duchess of Hamilton: two photographs Railway Wld, 1985, 46, 361

Hayward, Jim (NER>BR)
Joined NER as a cleaner at Tyne Dock. Involved in derailment on a coal staithe when working on FGH shunter. Also told McKillop of his very rough treatment as a fireman by some of the drivers. Spent his driving career on heavy freight at Tyne Dock. Portrait. McKillop, N. Ace enginemen (1963)

Henderson, James
Fireman on  broad gauge train carrying Sultan of Turkey to Windsor. Noted points at Slough incorrectly set which led to his early promotion to driver: later a Locomotive Inspector at Swindon: British Rly J. 1986, 2, 172

Henderson, Robert
Driver of NBR 4-4-0T No. 103 Montrose at Stephenson Centenary celebration in Newcastle in 1881: see Locomotive Mag., 1911, 17, 121.

Henderson, Tom
Haymarket driver noted for his work in the Newcastle with his Atlantic No. 878 Hazeldean. On one northbound run he recovered 38 minutes of lost time. He took part in the  non-stop Flying Scotsman workings. See Knox North British Rly Study Gp J, , 2015 (124) 6

Herwin, John Rufus
Norwich driver who helped to instigate sub-three hour timings for Cromer expresses from Liverpool Stree in 1890s.

Hibbs , John [Jack] William
Born 3 December 1882, but  service history state 3 September 1882. (Birth registered in Chapel-en-le-Frith District). Son of engine stoker John Hibbs and his wife Mary Ann. In about 1888 moved from Buxton to Rowsley with his parents. In 1891 living with his parents in Little Rowsley. Father John (33) was an engine driver (Census information). In September 1898 he became a caller up at Rowsley, paid 9 shillings per week. 1901 census  shows him as an engine cleaner, On 24 July 1907 he married Florence Annie Pidcock (22) of Upper Hackney in St. Helen's Church, Darley Dale, by then. John was a Fireman. Midland Railway driver at Rowsley. On 6 December 1908 a daughter Lexey Elizabeth was baptised in St. Helen's Church, and they were living at 5 Stancliffe View. On 12March 1911 a son John Reginald born. 1911 Advised by grandson Roger O'Leary in 2009 that he had a gold medal engraved "Presented by His Grace The Duke of Devonshire J.W. Hibbs Rowsley Rifle Club 1911". In 1915 he was second subscriber to Rowsley Locomotive Department Mutual Improvement Class. Proposed by T.J. Smedley and seconded by T. Moseley at a meeting of the Rowsley Branch of the NUR that three 3 NUR members, 3 ASLEF members (including Hibbs), and R. Buckle Junior be presented with medallions for services rendered during the 1919 strike. Between 1915 and 1938 he was Secretary of the Rowsley Locomotive Department Mutual Improvement Class. Staff Side Secretary of Motive Power Department LDC from 1924 to 1930. He participated on local politics and at one stage he was an Alderman on Darley Dale Council. During WW2 he was running shed foreman. Group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921 included Jack. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57. All additional information from Glynn Waite recceived via e-mail in 2021.

Hinchliffe
Great Central driver who worked through from Leicester to Plymouth in 1904. See Rly Wld, 1988, 49, 546

Hinder, W. [Bill]
Swindon driver who had Gordon Shurmer as fireman and worked to Cardiff and Leicester. Tim Bryan's All in a day's work 

Hine
Lived at Southsea: drove J. Beattie 2-4-0 locomotives see Locomotive Mag,, 1932, 38, 185-7

Hodgson, Stan
See Steam Wld, 1998, (138), 40 for self-portrait. R.H.N. Hardy noted that he joined  GNR in December 1922. Died November 1997.

Hooker. Bert
Author of Nine Elms engineman (Truro: Bradford Barton [1985] notes that he was born on 2 July 1916 at Dartford: his father worked  at Slades Green and other members of the family worked on the railway. The book describes his activities as a fireman, mainly during WW2 and importantly during the 1948 Locomotive Exchanges when he fired the Bulleid Pacifics through Woodhead Tunnel, over the Highland line and over Shap. The book contains several errors: The Red Knight is descibed as an LN, and the asbestos works which employed him when the Southern Railway laid him off for the winter was presumsably in Erith, not "Frith" Working 800 ton coal train from Feltham Marshalling Yard to Durnsford Road power station with N15 4-6-0 No. 30755 The Red Knight which retained its large diameter cylinders, but was liable to prime and unbraked wagons had to be capable of being slowed for junctions and stopped at level crossings.see Railway Wld, 1986, 47, 470

Hoole, William [Bill]
Born on Merseyside on 27 July 1894; died 7 June 1979; buried at Minffordd near Festiniog Railway where he worked after his retirement. Joined Midland Railway when aged thirteen and became a cleaner on the CLC before volunteering for Royal Field Artillery in WW1. Became a drver at Neasden in 1926, but had to transfer to King's Crrss in 1927. Famed for 112 mile/h attained by No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley on 23 March 1959. Kenneth H. Leech. Rly Wld, 1957, 18, 307. Norman Harvey, Driver Hoole and the "A1" Pacifics. Rly Wld., 1960, 21, 131

Hopkins, William
Worked at Parkhead as a  driver. He showed commendable initiative in preventing a serious accident by warning the driver of an approaching express that the line was blocked by derailed vehicles at East Fortune on 1 November 1906. See Knox North British Rly Study Gp J, , 2015 (124) 6

Horsley, H.
Midland Railway driver at York: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Horton, E.J  
Midland Railway driver at Toton: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Howland, Philip
LNWR driver International Telegraph special on 19-22 June 1903 No. 1966 Commonwealth driven by Howland (Locomotive Mag., 1903, 9. 3-4,

Hubbard, Fred
Died on 24 February 1917 when only 57. Norwich driver on GER. who managed to stop up train from Cromer before encountering wreckage of down Cromer express at Witham in 1905. See Locomotive Mag., 1917, 23, 62

Hurst, Jim (GWR)
Friend of Daniel Gooch: Was born in Astley, Lancashire in 1811. Enjoyed driving fast, but was frequently fined for misbehaviour and had to be sent to Totnes. Ended as a labourer in Swindon Works and retired in May 1876 aged 64. His son with same name was an apprentice at Swindon Works and ended up being its Foreman. For a time he was Locomotive Superintendent of the Jersey Railway. Vaughan, A. Grub, water & relief: being tales of the Great Western, 1835-1892. (1985). Summers. Early footplate days... Backtrack, 1993, 7, 300.

Hutton, Bert
Nickname Doggy: top link at Stewarts Lane. See R.H.N. Hardy. Attention to detail. Part 4. Steam Wld., 1995, (96) 27

Isles, Peter
Began on Dundee & Arbroath Railway, but moved to Edinburgh & Northern Railway at Burtisland. Drove last train over old Tay Bridge to survive and first northbound train over the Forth Bridge. See NBR Study Gp. J., 1996, (65), 21

Jackman, Michael
Cleaner at Bricklayers Arms from 1947. Left in 1962. Thirty years at the Bricklayers Arms. David & Charles. Railway Wld, 1986, 37, 487

Jackson, John
Carlisle fireman who worked No. 6100 Royal Scot on its North American tour in 1933. Locomotive Mag., 1934, 40, 20 or Backtrack, 2015, 29, 134.

James, S.
Midland Railway driver atWesthouses: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Jamieson, A.
Fireman at Patricroft at beginning of twentieth century. Liked Webb compounds, but disliked Whale's 19 inch or Experiment 4-6-0s which they called Mankillers as they burnt so much coal, Like the Swammy four-cylinder compound 0-8-0s especially whenn working over Shap

Jenkins, Jack
Electric Jack of Landore: see correspondence from Bill Crosbie-Hill and letters inspiring it and following it up in Great Western Rly J., 2013, 11, 357.

Johnson, 'Piccolo Pete'.
Through the links at Crewe: top link footplate memories. Vol 1. Truro: Bradford Barton. 1980.
Through the links at Crewe: more top link footplate memories. Vol 2. Truro: Bradford Barton. 1981.
Ottley 16695

Jones, R.S.
When the Perth to Euston Express pulled into Crewe on the 8 October 1952 in the early hours of the morning it was already 13 minutes late, largely due to heavy fog on the journey south. Taking over the train at Crewe were Driver R.S Jones and Fireman C. Turnock, relief drivers attached to the Crewe North shed. They were experienced men but, probably realised that the rest of the journey would probably be difficult. By the time they attached City of Glasgow, a Coronation Class 4-6-2 would take them south, they had already lost another 16 minutes, and possibly watched the non-stopping Glasgow to Euston Express flash past on the platform opposite. Neither Jones nor Turnock were particularly fazed by the weather though, their train’s Guard would later report. At 43, Jones was widely regarded by his colleagues as a careful and conscientious driver. A man who spent most of his time focused on either the job or his family, he had been in service on the railways in some form or other since 1927 when he’d started as a Cleaner. He’d spent time as a Fireman before passing out as a Driver in 1948 (with high marks) and knew most of the routes out of Crewe like the back of his hand. This included the fast run down to Euston, which he’d carried out almost 30 times before without incident. See also letter from Nick Booker in Backtrack, 2023, 37, 62 .

Jones, T.
Midland Railway driver at Staveley: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Jones, W.
Midland Railway driver at Walsall: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Kay, Jimmy
Driver: see NBRSG Journal, 2020, (141), 46 (portrait)

Keir, Alexander
Died at Kirn on 14 November 1920. Former well-known personage on the Great Eastern Ry. Mr. Keir had reached the great age of ninety-four. He was a driver on one of the Scottish railways until he joined the Eastern Counties Ry. in 1850. He became locomotive foreman for the London district in 1866, and retired at the end of 1897. See Locomotive Mag., 1921, 27, 51

Kennett, Harry
Driver at Bricklayers Arms: see Norman Harvey Locomotive causerie. Railway Wld., 1960, 21, 323

Kew, Thomas
Awarded rare Edward Medal for bravery for shunting wagons loaded with ammunition on 1 October 1917 during the major explosion at the White Lund munitions factory,

King, George
Photograph of him in classic drive pose ready to haul Royal Train with the Emperor of Abyssinia aboard from Portsmouth Harbour to Victoria Steam Wld, 1993, (74) 34

King, Tom
Born in Walsall on 25 June 1898; died 23 March 2002. Driver at Bristol Barrow Road from 1936. Started work as a cleaner in 1915. Obituary Midland Record, (17), 33. . See series in Midland Record starting in Issue 10 page 5.

Kinnear
Fireman, from Haymarket, on non-stop Flying Scotsman see Livesey Locomotive Mag., 1938, 44, 337. His wife and wee baby boy were on northbound train

Knapp, W.
Camden driver mentioned in connection with fast running: Locomotive Mag., 1935, 41, 139 and LMS Journal, 2004 (7) 2

Knights, Anthony  
Died in April 1917 aged almost 91: born 27 April 1826. Engine driver based at Colchester who regularly drove 07.50 to London. Obituary states retired "forty years ago". Locomotive Mag., 1917, 23, 106

Knowles, Jim
Joined LMS on 3 March 1941 at former Midland shed at Carnforth and moved to LNWR shed at Christmas. Remembered the gauge glasses on  S160 2-8-0. Passed for driving in 1955 and was working steam specials from there. Railway Wld., 1984, 43, 30 

Landry
Fireman on the Great Southern & Western Ry, who according to Joynt (Locomotive Mag., 1918, 24, 34) patented a device located in firebox to enhance combustion and reduce spark throwing.

Lapham, W.
Camden fireman mentioned in connection with fast running: Locomotive Mag., 1935, 41, 139

Last, Bill
Born Stnham Aspall near Stowmarket. Son of a steam haulage contractor. Father moved to Cambridge. Bill started work as an apprentice fitter at Cambridge LNER shed in October 1932, but moved to being a cleaner in July 1936. Became a fireman in May 1942 and a driver in October 1954. Worked Royal Trains and took early retirement in April 1982 then worked for Alan Bloom at Bressingham. See Ian Allen 55 years of steam

Lawson, John
Had been fireman on Wylam Dilly in 1822 when a driver on a mail train on 9 October 1849 near West Boldon collided with a carriage containing workmen and killed three of them and injured others which led to Lawson drowning himself. Langham Early locomotives on the Stanhope & Tyne Railway, Backtrack, 2019, 33, 588)

Lee, John
Died 20 February 1954 in Perth due to burns sustained from blow-back on No, 72005 Clan MacGregor near Auchterarder on Aberdeen to Manchester fish train. His mate John Lindsay died on 22 February. Charlie Meacher Living with locos.

Leighton
Driver of N7 class on Harwich line and on Stour Valley route. Railway World, 1974, 35, 6.

Leonard, John (GWR)
A driver who was involved in a contratemp with one of the GWR directors. Vaughan, A. Grub, water & relief: being tales of the Great Western, 1835-1892. (1985).

Lester, James (Jim)
Former South Western driver who drove preserved light Pacific No. 34067 Tangmere.. Autobiography Southern Region engineman and Southern Way Issue 13 psge 28-

Lindsay, John
Died 22 February 1954 in Perth due to burns sustained from blow-back on No, 72005 Clan MacGregor near Auchterarder. He was the fireman

Liver, John (GWR)
Mentioned on page 7 of Vaughan, A. Grub, water & relief: being tales of the Great Western, 1835-1892. (1985).

Loveridge
On 17 June 1897 Grand Duke Serge of Russia was driven by Driver Loveridge from Dover to Victoria leaving at 16.00 and arriving at 17.40. See Locomotive Mag., 1897, 2, 113

Lovering, Jack
Driver at Old Oak Common: McKillop, N. Ace enginemen (1963)

Lovesey, W.H.
Driver who travelled with 28XX from Swindon for tests on Glenfarg Bank on North British Edinburgh to Perth line in 1921. See Locomotive Mag., 1921, 27, 26

McCaig, Charles
Worked at Parkhead as a fireman. He showed commendable initiative and courage in preventing a serious accident by warning the driver of an approaching express that the line was blocked by derailed vehicles at East Fortune on 1 November 1906. See Knox North British Rly Study Gp J, , 2015 (124) 6

McClelland, Jim
Born in Newton Stewart; left school in 1944, and started as an engine cleaner at the local shed. Moved via Stranraer to Carlisle and latterly worked steam specials. Quinn, Tom. Tales of the old railwaymen. pp. 134-44.

McDonald, William
NBR fireman from Arbroath who was killed ln the Burntisland accident on 14 April 1914. (Backtrack, 2023, 37, 308)

McEwing, Jock
Rememberances of Arran boat trains teraing through Ardrossan Town station (the electric EMUs may tear along Locowinnock, BUT) David L. Smith Railway Wld., 1979, 40, 618

McGregor, Joe
Driver during 1895 Railway Races to Aberdeen. A.W. Miller NBRSG Newsletter, 1981, (13), 9

McIntosh, John
Fireman see NBRSG Journal, 2020, (141), 46 (portrait)

McKenna, Frank

McKillop, Norman (NBR>BR)

McKnight, David
Of St. Enoch: worked the diner 13.30 to Carlisle for St. Pancras and the return working which left St. Pancras at 13.30. David L. Smith Railway Wld., 1979, 40, 618

Maguire
Driver, from Haymarket, on non-stop Flying Scotsman see Livesey Locomotive Mag., 1938, 44, 337.

Maltby, S.W.
Midland Railway driver at Mansfield: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Manley, Ron
Southern Region fireman who fired Leader class: see Michael Harris. Steam Days, 1995, (66) 115

Marshall, John
Fireman on No. 224 which went down with the Tay Bridge See NBR Study Gp. J., (65), 28..

Mason, Harry (LNWR>LMS)
page 52 Essery, R.J. and Harris, N. LMS reflections: a collection of photographs from the Hulton Picture Company. 1986: Driver Harry Mason retiring on 6138 London Irish Rifleman at Euston on 26 May 1933 (joined LNWR in 1888).

Meacher, Charles (Charlie)
Started at St Margarets on North British Railway: autobiographical books

Merryweather, F.G. (GER>LNER)
Began railway career on 11 September 1901 on GER at Palace Gates. Transferred to Stratford in 1914. Promoted to driver in 1920. Eventually worked non-stop trains to Yarmouth, Lowestoft and Cromer, the Continentals and the Eastern Belle. Top link drivers, No. 80. Rly Mag., 1947, 93, 226-7..

Metcalfe, John
Died at Redcar on 18 February 1927; aged 87. Born in Middlesbrough. Worked as a fireman on the Stockton & Darlington Railway from age 14. Drove the now preserved Derwent and worked on footplate for over fifty years. Locomotive Mag., 1927, 33, 86.

Miles
Worked King George V Funeral Special which left Paddington on Tuesday 28 January brhind No. 4082 Windsor Castle at about mid-day for Windor with Drivetr W.H. Sparrow and Fireman Miles.. Locomotive Mag., 1936, 42, 42.

Millman, Reginald (LSWR/SR)
Born on 14 May 1885; railway career began as cleaner on LSWR, appointed fireman in 1906 and driver on 15 May 1919. Portrait leaning from cab of 21C141. Top link drivers, No. 106. Rly Mag., 1949, 95, 309..

Mills, Leonard (GER>LNER)
Began railway career as a call boy on 13 June 1904; became cleaner in 1906 and a driver in 1920. In express passenger link at Stratford and duties included the Eastern Belle Pullman. In 1944 he volunteered for working United States ambulance trains with air-braked B12 No. 7479. He was based at Bournemouth. For his work with the American Forces he received a letter of commendation from Major Paul Schultze of the Medical Corps. Portrait. Rly Mag., 1947, 93, 300-1.

Mitchelll
Driver of No. 224 which went down with the Tay Bridge See NBR Study Gp. J., (65), 28..

Moore, H.
Midland Railway driver at Leicester: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Moore, Herbert (GWR)
Began railway career as a cleaner on 2 January 1904 at Stourbridge. Appointed fiireman at Landore on 8 January 1907 and promoted to driver on 16 June 1919. At time of publication was working express trains from Swansea to Carmarthen, Cardiff and to Paddington.. Top link drivers, No. 79. Rly Mag., 1947, 93, 226-7..

Morgan, Bill
Behind the Steam. (1973). Autobiography of engineman at Neyland depot between 1916 and 1864.

Morris, F.A.
Midland Railway driver at Peterborough: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Morris, George (LMS)
Of Crewe North depot died in Perth Royal Infirmary as result of being thrown from footplate of Royal Scot locomotive when boiler pierced by connecting rod on 19.30 Euston to Aberdeen on 28 February 1936. Badly scalded Fireman Walter S. Davies brought train to halt: see Scotsman report

Morrow, Robert
Driver on Stockton & Darlington Railway in early days: see Locomotive Mag., 1928, 34, 63-4

Morton. W.J.
Midland Railway driver at Swansea: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Moss, W.H.
Midland Railway driver at Buxton: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Moxon, J.W.  
Midland Railway driver at Canklow: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Munslow, Jack
Camden driver: see run on down Saturday afternoon express to Liverpool behind No. 46228 with 530 tons see Norman Harvey Locomotive causerie. Railway Wld., 1961, 22, 111

Nebbs, S.
Driver at Bricklayers Arms: see Norman Harvey Locomotive causerie. Railway Wld., 1960, 21, 323

Nightall, James William
Born on 20 May 1922 in Littleport, Cambridgeshire and was killed on 2 June 1944 when acting heroically to save the town of Soham from a blazing ammunition train being hauled by WD 2-8-0 No. 7337 driven by Benjamin Gimbert. He was awarded a posthumous George Cross. The George Cross was awarded on 25 July 1945; the George Cross and other awards are displayed in Soham Village College. No. 47 579 James Nightall GC marked the act: later No. 66 079 carried the name see Humm J. Rly Canal Hist. Soc., 2015, 38, 252  Also RCTS Locomotives of the LNER Part 6B page 133. Also awarded LNER Medal for Gallantry received by his widow see Locomotive Mag., 1944, 50, 180

Oakes, Wallace Arnold
On 5 June 1965 engine driver Wallace Oakes, then 33, left his home in Sandy Lane, Sandbach, and boarded the train for work at Sandbach Station. He joined his fireman, Gwilym Roberts, and took their allotted engine, Britannia Class engine number 70051 Firth of Forth, at Crewe Station. Waiting for them was the 14.05pm express to Carlisle. Below the chimney inside was a petticoat that directed the exhaust out — with a blockage to the chimney the exhaust would have no way of escaping. As the train entered Winsford station the firebox door was open and suddenly part of this petticoat gave way, blocking the chimney completely. This resulted, without any warning, in a massive blowback engulfed both driver and fireman. Fortunately Roberts was leaning out of the cab window and although his legs were very badly burned he was able to climb onto the outer steps. There he put out his burning clothes by rubbing them against the bodywork and then holding onto the outside of the tender doors. He realised that the brakes were being applied and remained there until the train came to a stop. Oakes was badly burned as he stood in the midst of the flames that engulfed the footplate. He partially closed the regulator, opened the boiler and pulled on the steam brake, bringing the train to a halt. Only then, with his clothes almost totally burned off and with 80 per cent burns to his body, did he fall from the footplate and onto the embankment. He had almost certainly prevented massive loss of life by averting the destruction of the train. Roberts was badly burned but able to phone the signalman and raise the alarm. The southbound Royal Scot was signalled to stop and take both men to hospital. Oakes was so badly burned that a week later, after leaving hospital, he died of his injuries. For remaining at his post, engine driver Wallace Oakes was posthumously awarded the George Cross for gallantry and in 1966 he was also awarded the Bronze Medal of the Carnegie Hero Trust. Off Internet Further, and more accurate information noting new headstone for hhim in St. Matthew's church Haslington in February 2018. In 1981 No. 86260 was named Driver Wallace Oakes GC. J. Rly Canal Hist. Soc., 2018, 307.

Oakton
Of Kings Cross shed: series of photographs taken by and included in H.G. Forsythe Men of steam which show footplate of A4 No. 60012 Silver Link en route to Peterborough.

Oldham, H..
Midland Railway driver at Nottingham: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Oram, William George (GWR)
Began his railway career at Salisbury on 20 April 1903 as a cleaner. Appointed fireman on 16 January 1906 and driver on 31 March 1919. In 1947 was in No. 1 passenger link working to Bristol and Cardiff (from Salisbury). Portrait. Rly Mag., 1947, 93, 300-1.

Osborne, Wally
Driver at Swindon.  Tim Bryan's All in a day's work 

Parke, W.T.
Midland Railway driver at Laacaster: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Pascall, W.
See Locomotive Mag., 1914, 20, 96: after 48 years' service on the L. & N.W. R., W. Pascall, of Crewe. had retired. He had been an engine driver for 42 years.  Pascall was driver of the pilot which preceded the Royal train during King Edward's reign. He drove the Royal train during the first visit ot King George to Ireland and also on the occasion of the Investiture of the Prince of Wales at Carnarvon. On the return of the Royal party from Wales, driver Pascall, with the engine Coronation, had charge of the special, which came off the Cambrian system, from Whitchurch to Carlisle. Portrait

Pawson, A.
Midland Railway driver at Hellifield: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Payne, Ernie
Driver at Ipswich shed and member of ASLEF LDC. Had been a Major in the Home Guard. Portraits Steam Wld., 1995 (102), 33 and photograph in cab taken by Fireman Payne of Driver Pinkney. Railway World, 1978, 39, 483. Dick Hardy comments at length (online) on this remarkable man who joined GER in 1911, served in France and promoted to Captain on the battle field. He waas courteous and helpful.

Peachey, Charlie.
Joined GNR in 1895. Retired in 1942. Kings Cross driver who drove non-stop Flying Scotsman and reached 104 mile/h whilst driving Coronation. Lived in a house in North Finchley which was named Fairway after the locomotive.  Geoffrey Hughes A Gresley anthology, p. 71

Peachy, F.
See Batsford The book of speed with contribution on driving the non-stop Flying Scotsman.

Pearce, A.
Midland Railway driver at Kirkby: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Pearce, Thomas
Great Western driver at Wolverhapton. Author of The locomotive: its failures and remedies (Ottley 2977). Reviewed in Moore's Monthly Magazine page 30.

Peart, Walter
Driver on Windsor to Paddington express on 18 July 1898 when connecting rod broke on No. 238 and pierced the boiler barrel.He and Fireman Dean applied the brake and stopped the train, but succumbed to their burns.  See Locomotive Mag., 1898, 3, 128.

Penney, E.W.
Midland Railway driver at Bristol: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Perry, Bill (BR)
Essery, R.J. and Harris, N. LMS reflections: a collection of photographs from the Hulton Picture Company. 1986.: contains (pp 85-90) "day in life of" Driver Bill Perry and Fireman Bill Deal based on Bletchley for Picture Post in 1949.

Perry, H.
Midland Railway driver at Bath: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Pibworth, Alf
See Hughes Rly Wld 42 638 for account of his skill in handing A1 4474 on the extremely difficult GWR mainline to Exeter where the curvature was uncompensated during the 1925 locomotive exchange. F.A.S. Brown (Nigel Gresley) called him 'Mad Alf': certainly his work on the South Devon banks was superb. Portrait of Driver Pibworth, Sir C. Batho, Lord Mayor of London in top hat, and Gresley wearing a bowler both of latter on footplate on No. 4472 prior to departure of inaugural non-stop Flying Scotsman Locomotive Mag., 1928, 34, 176. .

Pile, Leonard (Len) Y.
Camden top link driver responsible for the long Euston to Carlisle trains, including the Royal train. McKillop, N. Ace enginemen (1963). On footplate of No. 5543 when named Home Guard. Locomotive Mag., 1940, 46, 215,  

Pile, T.B.
Camden fireman of No. 6200 The Princess Royal on Crewe to Willesden Junction record high speed run: Locomotive Mag., 1935, 41, 231.

Pink, A.
Driver A. Pink oiling LMS 4-6-0 with vacuum pump on "31 August 1927". page 11 of Essery, R.J. and Harris, N. LMS reflections: a collection of photographs from the Hulton Picture Company. 1986. 

Pinkney, George
Driver of Ipswich shed who worked North Country Continental with B12 No. 8535: photograph in cab taken by Fireman Payne. Railway World, 1978, 39, 483

Potts, G.C.
Bankers and pilots: footplate memories. Truro: Bradford Barton, 1985: working life spent at Mexborough initially on steam (including working Beyer Garratt up Worsborogh incline) and latterl as motorman from Wath..

Pratt, H.
Midland Railway driver at Plaistw: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Pullan, J.
Midland Railway driver at Normanton: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Quilter, A.P.
Midland Railway driver at Tilbyry: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Rawson, Peter
Based at Mirfield: driver with a camera. See Bedside Backtrack

Rear, Bill
Some time fireman at Crewe North; had begun footplate work under J.M. Dunn at Bangor  mpd. Researcher on engine workings: see NBR Sttudy Gp J., 1990, (38), 6

Redpath, J.
Haymarket A4 driver (No. 60024 Kingfisher); criticed in his youth as a fireman for failing to assist his driver in sighting signals on a right-hand drive D11/2 (Linlithgow accident 19 December 1925 investigated by Col. Mount) : see Knox NBR Study Gp. J., 2016 (129) 28

Rees, T.
Midland Railway driver at Gurnos: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Reynolds, Michael
Engine driver, later locomotive inspector during Stroudley's period on L.B.&S.C.R. Author of several books: Locomotive engine driving (see Ottley 4032); Engine-driving life (Ottley 4042); Real railway anecdotes (Ottley 7676): all were published within the period 1875-1895. See also books
Ralph Harrington: It is that extraordinary writer Michael Reynolds who provides the clearest nineteenth-century formulation of this relationship. In Engine Driving Life: Stirring Adventures and Incidents in the Lives of Locomotive Engine-Drivers he depicts a railway landscape which is as beset with peril and adventure as any storm-tossed sea, and requires of locomotive crews that they 'exhibit heroism as genuine as that which graces a battle-field: men who die at the post of duty, in all the pride of manhood, turned by erring hands into the valley of the shadow of death.' The key, of course, is provided by those words 'turned by erring hands'; all the heroism and bravery of the best of engine-drivers is in vain, warns Reynolds, if that driver or someone upon whom he depends has not done his homework and is not following the rulebook: 'Discord and confusion underlay all railway working, but the rightly-prepared mind and eye can steer through the vague mass of points, and traps, and gullets, and signals, and 8 tunnels. Reynolds urges upon enginemen the finest human qualities, but these alone are not enough; 'that code of regulations which experience has taught us is absolutely essential for the safe working of railway traffic' must be followed, and while the most desirable solution would be 'to put the fallibility of man out of the reckoning, and to substitute automatic devices' in all possible aspects of railway peration, failing that the men on the footplate must be as close to machinery in their own behaviour as possible. He was author of Stroudley biography in Rly Mag., 1900, 7, 251.
Inventor of peculiar locomotive (10 foot single driver with friction wheels to add extra adhesion when required, patented in 1894: GB 7883/1894 Improvements in locomotive engines Priority 21 April 1894 (checked Espacenet). Locomotive Mag., 1903, 8, 446-7. Also contributor to Locomotive Magazine. Brian Reed notes Reynolds reverential treatment of his boss in Loco Profile 32. Extracts in Ted Talbot's presentation of Baron's Diary.

Ricks, Clem
Driver at Swindon.  Tim Bryan's All in a day's work 

Rinder, Harry
Probably based at Neville Hill: on footplate with Eric Treacy when he was given a footplate trip on the North Briton to Newcastle. Railway Wld, 1968, 29, 352-3.

Roberts, Alf
Joined LMS as signalbox lad in 1943, then became shunter and parcels clerk before moving to footplate work in 1950. Experienced firing A1 pacifics and Princess Royal class and the Duke of Gloucester over Shap (the last being the hardest) and was firing preserved locomotives from Steamtown including Lord Nelson. Railway Wld., 1984, 43, 30 

Robinson, Ben
LNWR driver presumably based at either Crewe or Carlisle. Portait of Robinson on page 99 The LNWR recalled.by Talbot (shown on the footplate of No. 1926 La France possibly at time of his retirement) . International Telegraph special on 19-22 June 1903 No. 1965 C.H. Mason driven by Robinson (Locomotive Mag., 1903, 9. 3-4; Nock (Railway race to the north) notes known as Big Ben — tall bearded man.

Robinson, Tom
Caledonian Railway driver during racing period: based at Carlisle and lived at Etterby. Nock (Railway race to the north) includes a family group portrait which radiates Victorian respectability. His death in 1909 at Beattock Summit when he fell under the locomotive Locomotive Mag., 1909, 15, 184.

Rollins, David
Letter in Backtrack indicating use of permissive block working on East Coast main line in days of  steam 

Roscoe, Bob (GWR)
Born Liverpool in 1818. Joined LMR in 1834 as a cleaner. Moved to GWR where associated with locomotive Sultan. Noted for his good humour. In trouble (annd fined) for arriving at Gloucester too quickly and in placing excessive reliance upon Clarke chain brake, but rewarded fo stopping train in time to save hounds of Old Berks Hunt. Beacame Royal Train driver (for which he was paid an extra sovereign for every journey) and drove "Sir Daniel Gooch's" 09.05 Windsor to Paddington. Vaughan, A. Grub, water & relief: being tales of the Great Western, 1835-1892. (1985).

Russell, Charles
On footplate of No. 5616 when renamed Malta GC: he had been in Dunkirk evacuation. Locomotive Mag., 1943, 49, 159.

Scott, Adam
LNER driver photographed at Craigentinny Carriage Sidings with Scott class. NBRSG Journal, 2020, (141), 7.

Scott, Alex
Son of LMS horse cart driver; started work at Czmden shed as a cleaner in 1938. Describes footplate experiences as a past cleaner: going through Linslade Tunnel; smooth ride given by Pacifics; the heavy coal consumption of the Turbomotive; the attractive streamlined casing on the LMS pacifics. Then switched to Watford Junction as a fireman. Volunteer on North Norfolk Railway. Book: A wartimr footplate man. North Sea Publishing (bought NNR shop); Further material available online.

Selway, Harry
Originated on Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway, but working at Holbeck with Type 45 diesel electric on Thames Clyde Express between Glasgow St Enoch and Carlisle when encounted by McKillop. McKillop, N. Ace enginemen (1963)

Short, Jimmy
Driver of Carlisle to Glasgow Corridor when Dunalastair II substituted for Cardean: Allen Railway Wld., 1960, 30, 6-9

Shurmer, Gordon
Great Western man who unusually spent his whole career at Swindon (starting in 1937).  Tim Bryan's All in a day's work 

Simmons, C.H.
P. Ransome-Wallis. Men of the footplate (1954).

Sims, Ernie
Driver at Swindon.  Tim Bryan's All in a day's work 

Skaife, Thomas
Fireman of Surprise which blew up at Bromsgrove during teests on Lickey Incline. See Backtrack, 2020, 34, 53

Slater, J.E.  (Heaton Mersey).
Midland Railway driver at Heaton Mersey: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Slater, W.H.
Midland Railway driver at Hasland: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Slowen, Joshua
Born in Leeds in 1830. Recollections extending from 1838 to 1903 published in Sheffield Independent 9 October 1903; also Rly Wld., 1983, 44, 350-1 noted by Simmons in Express trains

Smith, Davie
Driver at Ayr who drove a  special to Carlisle and returned as pilot on the Diner to Kilmarnock not stopping at Dumfries, came off at Kilmarnock and was back in Ayr within two hours of leaving Carlisle. David L. Smith Railway Wld., 1979, 40, 618

Smith, H.P.
Camden driver of No. 6200 The Princess Royal on Crewe to Willesden Junction record high speed run: Locomotive Mag., 1935, 41, 231  

Smith, Peter
The footplate work is recorded in a thoughtful contribution by Neil Burgess in the defunct LMS Journal No. 38 p. 42 et seq

Smith, S.  
Midland Railway driver at Leeds: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Soden, James
Seemingly based at Leicester commented on the difficulties experienced with Stanier Jubilee class: very difficult to oil inside motion: Gresley conjugated motion on A3 class Pacifics was vastly better. Disliked LNWR G2 class 0-8-0 but found Robinson O4 and Thompson O1 very strong and moderately fast. Thhe WD 2-8-0s were disliked for very poor ride and filthy cabs due to fuel spillage, especially if ovoids. B1 class were simpler to dispose than LMS class 5 4-6-0s. Rly Wld., 2010, (277), 40-5..

Sokell, J.
Grimsby man: see Locomotive Mag., 1928, 34, 203 with portrait marked retirdment of a driver on the Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Ry., and latterly the L. & N.E. Ry. He couldclaim a total of about 1½ million miles on the footplate. :In 1884 Sokell was fireman to driver Fred Hargreaves on No. 221, M.S. & L. Ry., which he states was a most satisfactory engine for fast goods and passenger work. He had several adventures and experiences on this engine as well as others he has driven. No. 221 engine, M.S. & L. Ry., was one of the first class of Mr. C. Sacre's goods engines. Sokell's last engine was G.C.R. 427 City of London, 4-6-0 express engine, working between Cleethorpes and Leicester, a 240 miles run, timed sharp with a heavy train.

Soutar, John
Born in Arbroath in 1833; joined Dundee & Arbroath Railway when aged 18. He drove the Royal Train; noted for high speed running between Perth and Aberdeen (90 miles in 80½ minutes); retired in 1900 and died in 1912. Locomotive Mag., 1912, 18, 129. and. Locomotive Mag., 1948, 54, 94-6.

Southgate, Albert
Driver Albert Southgate ran into the sand drag on a J39 at Shenfield due to colour blindness and the reaction of Rupert Vereker Richard Hardy's boss at Norwich..Steam Wld, 1996, (106) 26-30

Southworth, James
Wigan (Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway) driver who patented (KPJ not traced) an improved sandbox: diagram and description Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 183

Spalding, Charlie
Driver during 1895 Railway Races to Aberdeen. A.W. Miller NBRSG Newsletter, 1981, (13), 9

Sparrow, W.H.
Worked King George V Funeral Special which left Paddington on Tuesday 28 January brhind No. 4082 Windsor Castle at about mid-day for Windor with Drivetr W.H. Sparrow and Fireman Miles.. Locomotive Mag., 1936, 42, 42.

Sparshatt, William [Bill]
King's Cross Driver who was at controls when Mallard attatined the world speed record and on A3 Papyrus when it achieved 108 mile/hour at broadly the same location as Mallard's world record. Many images of him, but basic biographical information lacking. see Locomotive Mag., 1935, 41, 93.

Speed, R.W.
Camden fireman mentioned in connection with fast running: Locomotive Mag., 1935, 41, 139

Stark, Walter
Employed by London, Chatham & Dover Railway; maybe visible in two photographs in Backtrack, 2025, 29, 561.

Starvis, William T. (Bill)
Born Newmarket: left home in 1913 when aged 16 to work at Camden shed. Latterly kept a diary from which extracts appeared in Steam Wld.:
1996 (110) 16.
1997 (115), 16

Stephenson, James
Elder brother of George Stephenson Driver on Stockton & Darlington Railway in early days: see Locomotive Mag., 1928, 34, 63-4. Stephenson Locomotivbe Society website: James , the eldest son, became an engine driver on the Stockton & Darlington Railway when it opened in 1825. He drove Locomotion No. 1. In 1830 he moved to George's new colliery at Snibston on the Leicester & Swannington Railway, where he was appointed superintendent. He stayed until his death in 1847.

Stevenson, William [Bill]
Top link driver at Haymarket. Has a Chapter (9) to himself in McKillop's Enginemen elite which relates the hard work demanded from firemen when working the heavy fish trains from Aberdeen hauled by NBR Atlantics; also running into a gang of permanent way workers who were not protected by flagmen on the NBR. Other tales relate to the loss of a tyre from A3 No. 2500 Windsor Lad near Dunbar when working a return excursion from Newcastle. Close association with Donibristle and HMS Merlin and his regular A4 No. 60027 Merlin. See also Harry Knox letter on unfortunate incident (not created by him) when Merlin stalled on approach to Waverley with train carrying important visitors to Edinburgh after HMQ's Coronation in 1953.

Stickley, F.E.
Somerset & Dorset driver: autobiography in Locomotion Paper No. 118.

Stokes, Ken
See Both sides of the footplate: started as a cleaner at Holbeck on 25 March 1924. Rose to be an inspector with wide experience including the final period of steam on the Eastern Region.

Stopford
Great Central driver who worked through from Leicester to Plymouth in 1905 and on return journey hauled an additional six LNWR coaches from Plymouth to Bristol unaided beyond Newton Abbot. See Rly Wld, 1988, 49, 546

Stroud , A.E.
Midland Railway driver at Cricklewood: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Summers, Alf
Took him ten years to progress from cleanner to fireman at Old Oak Common during the depth of the 1930s Depression. Engines good and bad; alsoTim Bryan's All in a day's work

Swan, James [Jimmie]
Often known as Swannie. Top link driver at Haymarket. Noted for running the non-stop Flying Scotsman over the longer route via Falahill and the Waverley route through Kelso withhout stopping for water. Has a Chapter (10) to himself in McKillop's Enginemen elite , but this does not mention his involvement in a fatal collision at Haymarket in 1923: see Knox North British Study Gp J.,

Talbot, Tommy
Began his railway career at Taunton, worked as fireman at Old Oak Common, and driver at Landore. McKillop, N. Ace enginemen (1963)

Taylor, Arthur
Driver, from Kings Cross, on non-stop Flying Scotsman see Livesey Locomotive Mag., 1938, 44, 337. Had an O.B.E. A personal account of the Siver Jubilee run in  Geoffrey Hughes A Gresley anthology, p. 76

Taylor, Bob
Based at St. Margarets: photograph with Scott class at Perth. NBRSG Journal, 2020, (141), 5.

Thomas, James Arthur
Died during night of 16 November 1952 due to accident at Reading shed (Western Region). He had started work at Abercynon. see Backtrack, 2014, 28, 346

Thompsett
On 26 July 1903 Driver Tompsett on No. 70 Holyrood cut  the time from Victoria  to Brighton to 48 mínutes 41seconds attaining 90 mile/h at Horley and did the return run in 2 minutes more, attaining 85 mile/h Horley.

Thompson, James
Photograph of man who drove on the opening day of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway. See Locomotive Mag, 1911, 17 pages 26 and 8 (for actual photograph)

Thompson, 'Wor Bill' [William]
Mentioned on page 7 of Vaughan, A. Grub, water & relief: being tales of the Great Western, 1835-1892. (1985). Summers. Early footplate days... Backtrack, 1993, 7, 300. who stated that Thompson was very strong and could push his engine.

Thomson, Hughie
Corkerhill driver who on one day found that they had only 12 minutes left on passing Ardrossan South Beach to reach Fairlie Pier to connect with the Campbeltown boat. The schedule gave c17 minutes but they made it but were told off by a terrified passenger by the speed down from West Kilbride. David L. Smith Railway Wld., 1979, 40, 618

Thornton, John
Death  in late 1892 of a retired G.E.R. locomotive driver, John Thornton, who had a remarkable career. All his life was spent in locomotive work, having commenced as a lad of 15 years of age under Stephenson  & Co. in October, 1822. He was employed as an engine driver during the construction of the London and Birmingham, Great Western and Bristol and Exeter Railways, and on the opening of the Northern and Eastern Railway in 1840, he became a passenger driver on that system, where he remained until its incorporation with the Eastern Counties in January, 1844, leaving the latter line some time after for an appointment on the Londonderry and Coleraine Ry. in Ireland. In 1849, he returned to the London and Blackwall Railway, and was driver of the locomotive hauling the first train into Fenchurch Street, on the discontinuance of the original rope working. On the taking over of the Blackwall Ry. stock by the G.E.R., and their working of the line, Thornton became a driver in the latter company's account of the locomotives service, where he remained until retiring on a given of this railway in our pension during Worsdell's superintendency in 1883. He was at the time of his death in his 96th year.

Thorpe, Fred
Driver at Ipswich shed and member of ASLEF LDC. Had a spendidly fiery nature according to Hardy Portraits Steam Wld., 1995 (102), 33

Thurston, W.
Worked King George V Funeral Special which left Wolferton for King's Lynn worked by B12 No. 8520 driven by W. Thurston and fired by A. Tobell Locomotive Mag., 1936, 42, 42.

Till, George (SR)
Born in 1884 and joined LSWR at Barnstaple in 1898 as a cleaner. Appointed fireman 1911, moved to Nine Elms depot and promoted to driver in 1917. During WW2 in charge of many private and special trains. Top link drivers, No. 78. Rly Mag., 1947, 93, 226-7.

Tobell, A.
Worked King George V Funeral Special which left Wolferton for King's Lynn worked by B12 No. 8520 driven by W. Thurston and fired by A. Tobell Locomotive Mag., 1936, 42, 42.

Todd, Arthur
Driver at Bricklayers Arms: see Norman Harvey Locomotive causerie. Railway Wld., 1960, 21, 323

Tompsett
On 26 July 1903 Driver Tompsett of the LBSCR cut  the time from Victoria  to Brighton to 48 mínutes 41seconds attaining 90 mile/h at Horley and did the return run in 2 minutes more, attaining 85 mile/h Horley.

Topping, Brian
Fireman at Bury. See Backtrack, 2018, 32, 38-41

Trowell, W.
Camden driver: see run on up Red Rose see Norman Harvey Locomotive causerie. Railway Wld., 1961, 22, 111

Trower, G.W.
Joined GNR at Doncaster in 1893; passed to fire in 1897 and to drive in 1911. Retired in 1940 after 47 years service. He accompanied Cock o' the North to Vitry in France see Locomotive Mag., 1941, 47, 2

Turner, Edward
See Gt Western Rly J., 2011, 11, 122: driver at Bordsley 1901-08 (portrait)

Turnock
Despite only being 23, Fireman Turnock was equally experienced as Driver Jones. He had joined the railways as a Bar Boy in 1943 and become a Cleaner the following year. He’d been a Fireman since 1945 (appointed at the humble age of 16) and was regarded by most of his seniors as a man well on the way to being a Driver himself. Like Jones, he was generally regarded as a conscientious railwayman who took his job seriously, and had fired London expresses more than 30 times before. So as the Perth to Euston express pulled out of Crewe and headed out into the pre-dawn light, there was no indication that these two men were about to play a major role in the worst peacetime railway disaster the UK had ever seen.

Turner, W.M.
Driver at Nine Elms: wrote to Railway World: 1966, 27, 441

Twiggs, Tommy
Retired 1954 after 50 years service with SECR, SR and BR. Golden Arrow driver at Stewarts Lane. Portrait. Steam Wld, 1991, (53) 6

Tyrrell, Robert
When aged seventeen Tyrrell became a driver on the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway. Although Captain Howey does not feature in a Rough trip on the RH&D his presence is felt (Railway World, 1978, 39, 368). Date is not stated but must have been in early 1930s.

Walker, G.H.
Midland Railway driver at Carnforth: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Walker, Jock
On former NBR 2-4-0: NBRSG Journal, 2020 (141)

Washington, George
Died in 1988 (cremated 4 February). LB&SCR engine driver who invited Fred Rich onto his footplate whilst Fred was an apprentice at Brighton Works. See Yesterday once more.

Watkin, Ralph
Witness at arbitration Gray vs LNWR: formerly an engine driver on the York &: North Midland Railway. He had driven the engines with Gray's gearing and found tbem economical but not so handy for the driver;  they had a steadier and a sweeter motion and he thought they were lighter on repairs and would take heavier loads. In cross-examination Knowles asked about his present occupation and Watlcin replied: "I am a publican ... I shall be very happy to make you c:omfortable if you will call at the Elephant and Castle in Slceldergate at York".

Watt, James
One of the oldest, if not the oldest, of Scotland's engine drivers, James Watt, died on 22 March 1938 in Craigie, Perth, after a very short illness. Born in 1857, his father was a driver on the old Forth and Clyde Railway, afterwards transferring to the Fife and Kinross. Railway, a short single line connecting the Kinrossshire Ry. at Hopefield with the Edinburgh, Perth and Dundee Railway at Ladybank Junction. On this line young Watt, then in his early teens, used to fire for his father on either the Falkland Palace or the Loch Leven, the two four-wheeled locomotives which comprised the stock of the company. The Fife and' Kinross appears to have been one of the early lines that existed in a chronic state of impecuniosity and Watt used to. tell many very interesting tales of going with his father on one of the locomotives, collecting what money was available in the tills of the various stationmasters the day before pay day. Watt joined the North British Railway in 1876, and drove one of the 185 class on goods trains across the first Tay Bridge and later generally over the system, retiring in about 1923.

Webster, J.W.
Essery, R.J. and Harris, N. LMS reflections: a collection of photographs from the Hulton Picture Company. 1986: page 11 Driver J.W. Webster in front of 6164 at Euston

Whitty, Henry George (LNWR/LMS)
Began railway career in 1906, became a fireman in 1911 and driver in 1919. Always stationed at Camden. Had driven expresses for twenty years. Duties included Royal Train and special trains for Winston Churchill. Portrait. Rly Mag., 1947, 93, 300-1.

Wild, S.
Midland Railway driver at Coalville: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Wildey, Kenneth (Ken)
Carlisle Canal fireman & driver; son of another Canal driver, See brief obituary and tale of working on Waverley route with excessive load of bananas and sticking on curves. NBRSG Journal Issue 42, 15 et seq. See also Spareman Issue 17 page 25

Wilkie, George
Driver at Burnisland who knew Marshall and Mitchell, the footplatemen on the ill-fatted No. 224 which went down with the Tay Bridge. He had been born on a farm and did not join the railway until he was 22. See NBR Study Gp. J., (65), 28.

Wilkinson, F.C.
Midland Railway driver at Liverpool: group photograph of mutual improvement secretaries at Derby in 1921. Locomotive Mag., 1922, 28, 57.

Williams, John
Died 25 September 1917:  locomotive inspector on the Great Central Ry. He commenced work on the M.S. & L. Ry. in 1881, and was made fireman in 1883 and driver in 1891. He was stationed at Staveley and Colwick, then Gorton and finished driving at Leicester. He was promoted to locomotive inspector 28 December 1901, and eventually brought to Gorton on the headquarters staff of the loco. running department. Williams was joint author of the book on Locomotive Management from Cleaning to Driving,for the production of which he collaborated with Hodgson, of the Manchester School of Technology. Locomotive Mag., 1917, 23, 238

Williams, F.H.
Bangor fireman mentioned in connection with fast running: Locomotive Mag., 1935, 41, 139

Wimhurst, W.
Jointed GWR in 1893; top link driver at Old Oak Common in 1927. See Locomotive Mag,., 1928, 34, 15

Witkins, Sid
Driver who introduced David Joy to the footplate (see Joy's Diaries)

Wood, Wilfred
Notable for having a locomotive named after him: No. 5536 Private W. Wood, V.C. Two pictures of Driver Wood with Patriot class locomotive named to commemorate his bravery on 28 October 1918 during WW1 in Italy. He joined the LNWR at Stockport on 15 June 1914; became a fireman on 22 May 1919 and a driver at Newton Heath on 8 June 1936. See Rly Mag., 1943, 89, 357. See also Jeremy Higgins. Great War railwaymen. which explains how he won the VC for brave service at Casa Van in Italy on 28 October 1918 and adds that he retired in 1960 as a supervisor at Longsight depot and died in 1982

Woodley, Thomas
Died at Lincoln in May 1907, aged 83. Was one of the drivers on Lord Willoughby de Eresby's railway.. From some notes he left it appears that Lord Willoughby applied to the G.N. Co. for an engine driver for his private line and Sacre, District Locomotive Superintendent at Peterboro', offered Woodley, who had been foreman at Doncaster in charge.of locomotive repairs, the situation which he accepted. His lordship was seldom at home, and in view of the unsatisfactory condition of the engines Woodley appears to have given offence to the steward informing him of the true state of affairs, which Lord Willoughby, with his practical knowledge of locomotives, would have noticed at once. After eleven months' service, therefore, he was not mu surprised to hear that another man was coming from the North of England. Woodley went, back to Doncaster according to agreement, and whilst a driver there S.W. Johnson, 1ater locomotive superintendent of the Midland Ry. was his fireman, for six months, as a gentleman pupil of course. He was afterwards driver on the South Yorkshire Ry., and took the first train over the Trent Bridge at Gunness (G.C.R.) with the directors to Grimsby. So there is little doubt he was a trusted man imd a good tutor, which the writer of the "Reminiscences" of course had no means of ascertaining.See Locomotive Mag., 1908, 14, 208.

Yates, Horace
Joined GCR as a cleaner at Birkenhead in 1918: transferred to Gorton as fireman in 1922 and then moved to King's Cross as a young driver, but it took him from 1927 until 1950 to get into the top-link. Includes log of Flying Scotsman worked non-stop to Newcastle behind 60021 Wild Swan (with fireman J. Stannard) (complete log). A highly cultured man with interest in literature and music, and very fond of his yellow car. Portaits. McKillop, N. Ace enginemen (1963)

Young, Albert
Joined the LNWR as a cleaner in 1913 at Camden shed. He served in the infantry during WW1 and was injured, but returned to the LNWR and was made a fireman in 1919, He became a driver in 1935 and continued in that capacity during WW2 having to suffer aerial attack from enemy aircraft and creating a smokescreen to escape detection. Firing on the Euston to Carlisle turns was considered the ultimate test of firing ability. He enjoyed working at night and was appreciative of most of the locomotives upon which he worked including the LNWR classes (the cab controls on the Experiments were abdured, however). The Crabs and Compounds were well received, but his favourite class was the Duchess Pacifics once the streamling had been removed (it caused draughts and dust on the footplate). P. Ransome-Wallis. Men of the footplate (1954).

Inspector Tolley (Derby), J. H. Follows, Esq., C.B.E., General Supt., L. C. Geach, Esq., Motive Power Supt., Insp, Gardner (Derby),