Life in a Railway Factory

by Alfred Williams

Overview

For twenty-three years, up to the First World War, Alfred Williams worked in the Great Western Railway's Works at Swindon, the locomotive capital of the west. The population of the town was then about fifty thousand, all more or less dependent upon the factory for survival. About twelve thousand men normally worked there. Every singe aspect of life in a railway factory is covered in this book, first published in 1915, and he did not pull any punches in describing the appalling working conditions in the foundries, blast furnaces, blacksmith's shops and engine sheds which made up this vast industrial complex. If you want to know how a locomotive works, how each component, each rivet and nut and bolt came together to create a living breathing steam engine, read this book.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783732659470
Publisher:	Outlook Verlag
Publication date:	04/05/2018
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

Known as 'The Hammerman Poet' and 'The Wiltshire Poet' Alfred Williams was born in 1877 in South Marston, near Swindon. Family poverty forced him to begin working for a farmer at the age of eight. While still a teenager he joined two of his elder brothers at the GWR works at Swindon. Throughout his life he was a prolific writer of both prose and poetry and his thirst for knowledge was immense -he even taught himself Sanskrit. The shock of receiving news of his beloved wife, Mary's, terminal illness proved fatal to him and he died just before her in 1930.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations 8

Preface 13

Chapter I 19

Labour Unrest

Chapter II 28

The Stamping Shop

General Environment

The 'Coalies'

The Rolling Mills

Puddling and Shingling

Accidents At The Rolls

The Scrap Waggons

Waste

Chapter III 43

The Shunters

Watchmen

Detecting A Thief

Fires

Carriage Finishers

Painters

Washers-down

Cushion-beaters

Changes And Innovations

Departmental Relations

Chapter IV 55

The Old Canal

The Ash-wheelers

The Bricklayers

Rival Foremen

The Road-waggon Builders

The Wheel Shed

Boy Turners

The Rubbish Heap

Chapter V 72

'The Field'

'Cutting-down'

The Flying Dutchman

The Frame Shed

Promotion

Rivet Boys

The Overseer

Chapter VI 85

The Smithy

The Smith

Building The Fire

Gallery-men

Apprentices

The Oldest Hand

Death Of A Smith

The Smith's Attitude To His Mates

His Great Good-nature

The Smiths' Foreman

Chapter VII 97

Fitters

The Steam-hammer Shed

Forgemen

Their Characteristics

Boilermakers

The Foundry

The Blast Furnace

Moulders

Chapter VIII 111

Getting To Work

The Awakening In The Country

Stealing A Ride

The Town Stir

The Army Of Workmen

'Checking'

Early Comers

Clerks And Draughtsmen

features Of The Staff

Chapter IX 123

First Operations In The Shed

The Early Din

Its Effect On The Workmen

Charging The Heats

The Oil Furnace

The' Ajax'

Harry And Sammy

The 'Strappie'

Hydraulic Power

Wheel-bursting

Chapter X 135

Stamping

The Drop-hammer Staff

Algy And Cecil

Paul And 'Pump'

'Smamer'

Boilers

A Near Shave

Chapter XI 145

Forging And Smithing

Hydraulic Operations

'Baltimore'

'Black Sam'

'Strawberry' And Gustavus

The 'Fire King'

'Tubby'

Boland

Pinnell Of The Yankee Plant

Chapter XII 156

First Quarter At The Forge

Chapter XIII 170

The Night Shift

Arrival In The Shed

'Following The Tool'

The Forgeman's Haste And Bustle

Light And Shade

Supper-time

Clatter And Clang

Midnight

Weariness

The Release

Home To Rest

Chapter XIV 182

Inferiority Of Work Made By The Night Shift

Altering The Gauges

The 'Black List'

'Double Stoppage Charlie'

'Jimmy Useless'

The Haunted Forge And Coke Heap

The Old Valet

The Checker And Storekeeper

Chapter XV 192

Sickness And Accidents

The Factory Year

Holidays

'Trip'

Moods And Feelings

Pay-day

Losing A Quarter

Getting Married

Chapter XVI 211

Cold And Heat

Meals

Fat And Lean Workmen

Ways And Means

Pranks

All Fools' Day

New Year's Eve

Chapter XVII 223

Getting A Start

The New Hand

Town And Country Workmen

Promotion

Discharging Hands

Language Of The Shed

Education

The Educated Man Not Wanted

Greasing The Forge

Chapter XVIII 243

Short Time And Overtime

'Back To The Land'

The Town Influence

Changes At The Works

Grievances

The Position Of Labour

Ills And Remedies

The Future Outlook

Appendix 256