RootsChat.Com

England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Herefordshire => Topic started by: NormanE on Friday 10 August 18 14:00 BST (UK)

Title: A Railway Job Description
Post by: NormanE on Friday 10 August 18 14:00 BST (UK)

I'm groping for a description of task described in the 1939 Index and don't know where to look.
The task was for an ancestor working on the Great Western Railway at Hereford in 1939.
The task was CALL BOY
Please can anyone point me in the right direction to find out?
NormanE

Title: Re: A Railway Job Description
Post by: iluleah on Friday 10 August 18 14:08 BST (UK)

A 'call boy' was rail slang.
He was a railway employee responsible for ensuring that members of a train crew are on hand for their regular runs and for notifying them of an extra run.

Title: Re: A Railway Job Description
Post by: arthurk on Friday 10 August 18 14:09 BST (UK)

Apparently a kind of walking alarm clock - or at least it was in 1921.

See http://doot.spub.co.uk/code.php?value=709

Title: Re: A Railway Job Description
Post by: NormanE on Friday 10 August 18 18:03 BST (UK)

Thank you for your helpful replies,
One of my thoughts included it was an ancient platform announcer. I now know the right answer. Thank you both
Norman E