
1885
PORTSMOUTH BRANCH
The Portsmouth Branch of A.S.L.E.& F opens in 1885, with members from the L.B.&S.C. and L.& S.W. Railway Companies.
On the 10th August 1885
the Woodside and South Croydon line on the was opened.
DEDICATED LOCOMOTIVES & MEN
FRED RICH COLLECTION
William Stroudley decided to allocated each of his engines (even thou they belonged to the
company) their own Engine Drivers who would then come responsible for their own
locomotive. This was Stroudley’s way of getting his Engine Drivers interested in their work
and by stimulating their pride, the condition and performance of their engine would be
maintained to a high standard.These engines would have the name of the Engine Drivers
painted inside the cab on the weatherboard in gold paint. For example (see below photo)
Brighton Driver William Love was allocated B1 class locomotive No.214 "Gladstone" and his name was painted in the cab. Stroudley also introduced a bonus scheme for coal saving,
whereby Engine Drivers would receive payment for burning less coal.
During the palmy days of steam, an engineman's cab was his castle.William Stroudley himself said:
"I consider it a great advantage to keep seperate engines for drivers. I have always believed that if an engine is made as carefully as possible, it will respond to the attention that it gets afterwards; that the driver will be proud of its appearance, and of the duty he can get out of it: and doubly proud to be able to perform a great duty with a small amount of expense. It has been found that the same will not take the same care of another engine as he does his own; and those engines which have unfortunately to be entrusted to several drivers deteriorate in quality, consume more coal, and get dirty and out of repair much more rapidly than those which are appropriated to a particular men. I am of the opinion that it is better for the railway company to spend more capital, and have more engines, so that one locomotive can be retained for each driver, as the cost of stores and maintenance will in that case be less."
As a result of this policy, and because the cab fittings constituted the tools of his trade, each
driver took special pride in the appearance of his footplate. The footplate crews would come
to work in accordance of the booked work allocated for their locomotive, this practice last up until 1919

PHOTOGRAPHER UNKNOWN
The view of the inside of the cab of "B1" class 214 Gladstone now preserved at the National
Railway Museum
In 1919 enginemen saw he introduction of the 8 hour day and the L.B.S.C.R. was obliged to
abandon its time honoured tradition of 'one driver, one engine' - quite simply it ceased to be
an economic proposition. Thereafter the best compromise (circumstances permitting) was to
introduce 'double manning' with each engine allotted to a pair of drivers on opposite turns
(one early, one late). under this system the locomotive was, in effect, available for about 16
hours in every 24 hours.
The working of the locomotive would then be done by these drivers with the exception of
leave, rest days, sickness etc. when the engine would have been worked by other designated
Enginemen. The practice of painting the drivers name onto the weatherboard then ceased.
But double manning didn’t suit everybody and there was many an old stalwart who in 1919,
would gladly have stuck to the 10 hour day in order to keep his own engine to himself.
Railway accidents on the
L.B.S.C.R.
from http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk
Thames Tunnel 21st September 1885
Involving ex New Cross Driver Frank Osborne Fireman James Green
& New Cross Driver John Quickenden
SEE SUB PAGE
East Croydon 22nd November 1885
Involving Driver John Smith & Fireman Edward Marlow,
Depot unknown.
SEE SUB PAGE

A.S.L.E.& F. BRANCHES OPEN
A.S.L.E.& F. BRANCHES OPEN