Railways

[danuslave]

Just come across someone in 1891 listed as living in Natland (near Kendal) Westmorland, occupation

Railway Stoker R. E. D.

Any idea what the RED stands for?

Ref Henry Swinbank  RG12/4332/9/12

TIA

Linda

[JenB]

It's in a different hand to much of the other writing, and also appears against two other people on the same page.

I think it's possibly an occupational classification added after the page was filled in by the enumerator.

[JenB]

If you look on some of the other pages, before and after this one, these three jobs consistently have R.E.D. noted against them - cleaner, stoker, driver.

I think I'm right in saying that cleaner and stoker were the two stages you had to go through before you became a driver.

I think R.E.D. was used for those within the occupational group Railway Engine Driver

[danuslave]

Thanks Jen - I should have noticed the different handwriting   

Linda

[Redroger]

If you look on some of the other pages, before and after this one, these three jobs consistently have R.E.D. noted against them - cleaner, stoker, driver.

I think I'm right in saying that cleaner and stoker were the two stages you had to go through before you became a driver.

I think R.E.D. was used for those within the occupational group Railway Engine Driver

Correct!