Was being a railway porter a good job?

[greenvalley]

One of my ancestors, James Baxter, was working as a Railway Porter in Dundee in 1851 and 1861 according to the census.

He also had a small grocery shop which he started around 1855.

I wonder if being a Railway Porter was a good job and whether or not it paid well. Would it have been better than working in one of the jute mills?

Does anyone have any ideas?

Greenvalley

[mazi]

It would definitely not be well paid, but it was regarded as a steady secure job, much preferred to the boredom of life in the mill, the work was varied and plenty of fresh air and a degree of freedom from direct supervision, with always a possibility of promotion.

mike

[Mike in Cumbria]

I'd agree with all of that. Two of my ancestors (from different families) started off as railway porters and later became station managers.

[greenvalley]

Thank you both

Much appreciated

Greenvalley

[barryd]

Any job on the railway was a "good job". A start in life cleaning locomotives would one day have you driving them.

[lynne kathrine]

working in a Jute Mill was dirty and dangerous, furthermore I can imagine the problems with ear,eye and throat complaints not to mention a lot of people went deaf due to the persistent noise of the machinery ... 'Mill Fever' which was due to the heat, oil and dust would bring about disease such as bronchitis and respiratory problems.

both were very low paid ,however as said above railway porter could often be out in the fresh air and  there was the possibility of work improvement (starting at the bottom and working your way up so to speak). not only that one may if lucky receive tips from customers after helping with their luggage, therefore a railway porter was I would consider at the front line of customer service  . travel by rail in 1855 a middle class thing to do....

[ev]

Just to add -
Mill owners would often employ women and children on lower wages.
It is said that women outnumbered men by 3 to 1 in the mills , so employment for men may have been limited.

ev

[greenvalley]

Thanks you all for the good advice.

I knew that the mills were bad, but didn't know about being a railway porter. As I said before, James Baxter and his wife also ran a small grocery store to supplement their income.

How much would a porter have earned per week? Does anyone know?

Greenvalley

[Skoosh]

Dundee mill-workers song.

"Oh dear me the mill's gaun fest,
The poor wee shifters cannae get nae rest,
Shiftin bobbins, coorse aye an fine,
They fairly mak ye work fur yer ten & nine".

Per day, per week, ?

Skoosh