Railways practice and Lengthsmen

[Westy11]

I am researching a family member who was a Lengthsman on the Queensland railways. 
For example in 1895 and according to the Electoral Roll of that year he was located at 19-Gang, S & W Railway at what was described as a Residence.

He was married and had 3 young children.  It seems 19-Gang, S & W Railway was near Dalby in Queensland. I think S & W Ralway is the Southern and Western Railway. 

I am hoping someone will know if it was common practice for a married man and his family to live together whilst he carried out his activities as a lengthsman? 

Based on what I have been able to glean to date a Lengthsman was responsible for maintenance of a length of railway.  If this is correct then its likely the residence referred to in the Electoral Roll was an actual building rather than a temporary shelter and if so then it makes sense his wife and young children lived at the residence.

i had a look at the site you included and his name wasn't there.  I'm assuming he perhaps was employed by the local Council rather than by the Railways which may account for his apparent omission from the list of Railway Employees.  The railway employees occupations seemed specific to the operation of the trains rather than the maintenance of the railway however this is just my initial impression. 

In addition is there a seminal book that described the early days in the development of the rail and the maintenance of same?  This would be also useful in understanding the life of Robert Henry TURNER and his family. 

Westy

[Jamjar]

I can’t see him on these lists:

http://fhr.slq.qld.gov.au/qldrail/

Jamjar

[Westy11]

copyright image removed

[majm]

I am confident that the qualification 'residence" refers to a period of time at the one locality rather than indicating a home.    It would be a .minimum number of months ... six if In NSW in that era ....
.not sure of QLD rules..  no females on Qld rolls until
1900s

JM