G&SW Railway, Ayr. Thomas Clark

[paulhill]

Hi,
It looks like David Hawkings book only covers England and Wales, But thanks for keeping on the case, I am very gratefull. 

[runner]

Ladies first
Maureen

My friend has not been able to track down Phillipe Maurer in the archive his society have on the railway. They have about 12,000 names of G&SW Railway employees and have scanned them but with no success.
This does not mean he didn't work on the railway, it only means he has not shown up on their list!  Over the years the railway existed there must have been many more employees for whom there are no existing records.
Sorry

Your turn Paul

The only engine driver named Thomas Clark they have a note of is  recorded as retiring from the company on 29 May 1884.  Again 'retiring' could have various connotations! 
Did he retire after injury;
It could be a euphimism for 'dead'
They have no other information on him and they hold the largest archive on this railway.

I'm glad neither of you held your breath for this   

I have some information on the loco sheds in Ayr and the surrounding railway connections if it is of interest.

Russell

[paulhill]

This could be him but i have him dying in 1875.
Thanks to you and your neighbour for taking the time and trouble to look into this matter for me.
       All the best, Paul. 

[hendren]

Hello Russell

It's a pity there  wasn't any information on Phillipe, but never mind.
Thanks very much for taking the time to help

Maureen

[runner]

Hi Paul & Maureen

My neighbour has just shown me an extract from the Kilmarnock Directory for 1856 which identified by name and occupation the various residents of the town who worked for the G&SWR.
It only covered Kilmarnock but the Dick Institute in Kilmarnock has probably directories for the other towns and covering a range of years.
The main library in Ayr has a similar collection. In the past I have been using them to find individuals (a bit like a telephone directory but before the phone was invented) and hadn't realised that there was a section for Company employees.
If you know where the person stayed, provided it was in the area covered by that directory, it could help the search.

I'm annoyed with myself for not suggesting it sooner.

Russell

[hendren]

Hello Russell

Thanks very much for your offer of help.

Phillippe Maurer was living at 202 Prestwick Rd Ayr in the first two decades of the 1900s.
In the 1880/90s he was living at Railway Cottage New Luce and before that at Chirmorie Cottage Barrhill.
Phillipe was French and at some time changed his name to Philip.

Maureen