1934
Partial restoration of percentage deductions.
LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL
1934
EASTBOURNE BRANCH
Where were the “grousers” during the branch meeting? Well, you missed a treat: Sectional Council minutes pulled to pieces and put together again, three out of the four points concede by the Company, more money in your pockets; so come and help yourself to more. What a debate on the vital question of transfers by those who have been and those who will be! Electrification affects you all, so come and have a say in the matter. New men attended this first possible meeting: old hand, you want to look into that before the next meeting. The new officers are all triers and willing to teach or be taught. To the older members I say: Come and show them you approve of the new generation; and to the youngsters: Come and pile in, show how much you have learnt; But to all: Help yourselves, `ware sparks. They are on their way to Eastbourne, so let us 100 per cent membership, and a branch room well crowed. There is nothing to be afraid of. We want all your grievances at the branch room to be dealt with satisfactory. To those who are outside the Society: I appeal to them join us and look to the future.
BRANCH REPORTER
PHOTOGRAPHER UNKNOWN
EASTBOURNE LOCO SHED
NEWHAVEN BRANCH MEETING Sunday March 18th 1934
A.H. PEARCE
After the business of the Branch a pleasing ceremony took place when our late Secretary Bro. A. Pearce was presented with a barometer on his leaving the depot to take up his duties of Motorman at Three Bridges. Bro. F. Sherwin made the presentation and spoke lightly of our colleagues principles and conscientiousness during his various turns office in this Branch.
Bro. Browning of the N.U.R. Also spoke well of Bro. Pearce qualities.
Bro. Pearce suitably replied and said he was glad to think he was leaving this Branch with many friends and no enemies. He said he had always done his best in everything he attempted.
* In 1934, A.H. Pearce transferred to Brighton motorman's depot, and transferring to Seaford motorman's depot in 1935, with electrification arriving on the East coast way routes..
LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL
1934
EASTBOURNE BRANCH
Yes! We are here again after a very interesting 2 hours discussing several important items, especially the companies’ proposals for the new negotiating machinery, which were not acceptable to the members present at our February meeting, where upon they decided to forward to the E.C. a resolution endorsing their action in refusing the Companies’ proposals, and also ask for the restoration for the 2.1/2 per cent cut, especially now the Companies are having a “good time” according to their finical position. Traffic receipts up, and still going up, so I appeal to all branches to forward your resolution to your E.C. to press for return to normal times.
Now to the non-unionists at the depot I am Glad to report we have made 10 new members since January. Why not make it 20 by our next meeting on April 8th? I ask: Where will the “nons” be in case of accident, and nobody is exempt from them? Think of your wife and family; it only cost 1d. a day to belong to our Society. Think of it, the price of a daily paper. I appeal to those outside: Get your membership form. I have plenty that want filling up. Do not like some our recently transferred “nons” from this depot; be approached by the secretary asking for your card and find that you have not got one to produce. Come in with us; we shan’t bite you! Now I appeal to all members: Do not use the mess room as a branch to air your grievances. They will not get rectified there! Take them to the branch room for just 2 hours a month of your time, and sometimes exciting a that.
W. HARDY
BRANCH SECRETARY
Railway accidents on the
Southern Railway
Brighton Section
Caterham 1st April 1934
London Bridge 19th April 1934
THE CLOSURE OF
BATTERSEA (PARK) LOCO SHED
Battersea (Park) roundhouses closed in 1934, with the remaining locomotives and work being transferred to neighbouring South Eastern shed at Stewart’s Lane.
Stewarts Lane provided a number of locomotives for what became the Central Division, but Brighton always remained the ultimate supplier of traction
PHOTOGRAPHER UNKNOWN
Bognor Loco as seen on Sunday 5th May 1934
THE FORMATION OF BRIGHTON No.2 OF A.S.L.E.& F.
In May 1934 the Brighton Branch of A.S.L.E.F. was split with the Enginemen and Firemen
working at the Steam Locomotive Shed becoming Brighton No. 1 Branch with Engineman Bro F. Stevenson continuing in the role as branch secretary.
The Motormen working at Brighton Lovers Walk Electric Multiple Unit Depot and West
Worthing Electric Car Sheds becoming Brighton No.2 Branch with Brighton based Motorman
Bro F. Booker being duly elected to become the first branch secretary of the newly opened
No.2 branch. The Brighton No. 2 branch opened with 58 A.S.L.E.F. members of which 44
where at the Brighton depot and 14 at the West Worthing depot. This gives an indication to
the sizes of the two depots but not an exact figure.
Over the next few years the expanding Southern railway electrification programme was to
change the face of many Steam depots along the Sussex coast, with some depots and men
transferring from the Locomotive Grade (Engineman) into the Electric Multiple Unit Grade
(Motorman). At some locations where there was still the need to for a Locomotive
depot a separate Motorman’s Depot would also be opened.
With the expanding electrification of the Railways serving Brighton East and West Coast
Brighton No 2 Branch started to become bigger until eventually becoming one of the largest
Motorman’s depots on the Southern Railway, whilst West Worthing Motorman’s Depot remained in the shadow of its larger neighbour.
BRIGHTON Nos. 1 & 2 BRANCHES FORMED
In May 1934, the opening of the Brighton No.2 Branch, which was formed to represent the
interests of motormen of Brighton & West Worthing depots. The Brighton steam depot
members were to become Brighton No.1 Branch.
PAUL EDWARDS COLLECTION
It appears from these open pages of the Branch sub-book, that members at the newly opened West Worthing depot joined the A.S.L.E.F. within the first few months of the depot being opened. This is indication on the left hand column is the date the members joined A.S.L.E.F. Above Brighton No.2 Branch subscriptions book page 1, shows the West Worthing members
This page also shows the names of the original 14 West Worthing A.S.L.E.F. members and gives an indication of the size of the depot. It is not known at this moment in time the exact size of West Worthing depot .
It was only a matter of time that A.S.L.E.F. was to be recognised as the only true voice for footplatemen regardless of their grade within the line of promotion. This is reflected in the high number of Motormen joining A.S.L.E.&F. after they transferred into their new grade.
PAUL EDWARDS COLLECTION
Above Brighton No.2 Branch subscriptions book page 1 the Brighton membership.Unlike many of the West Worthing motormen, many of the motormen at Brighton had been A.S.L.E.F. members for many years prior to the opening of the new motormen’s depot. The motorman with longest members was W.G. Lewery who had joined in A.S.L.E.& F. in 1904.
This page along with the following two pages, shows the names of the original 44 Motormen belonging to the Brighton No.2 Branch. This gives a good indication of the size of Brighton's Motormen's depot in 1934.
The opening pages cover the months of 1934 & 1935 with the membership paying their contributions.
PAUL EDWARDS COLLECTION
Above Brighton No.2 Branch subscriptions book page 2 the Brighton membership.
These pages gives a true account of the A.S.L.E.F. membership within the Brighton No.2
Branch. and a rough indication of the size of Brighton's Motormen's depots during 1934 - 35.
The majority to them transferring from the Brighton Loco Dept./Brighton No. 1 Branch to the Motormen's grade in mid 1932.
Motorman (F.W.) W. Hutchings, started his railway career in 1908 and started on footplate depot seniority on the 01.09.1911 and joined ASLE&F in February 1912.
A rough idea also can be gained of the length of service and age of some of the Motormen
PAUL EDWARDS COLLECTION
Above Brighton No.2 Branch sub-scriptions book page 3 the Brighton membership.
Page 3 shows the remaining A.S.L.E.F. members of the Brighton No.2 Branch along with
Motormen transfering into Depot and Brighton No. 2 Branch.Motormen A. Pearce came from Three Bridges and W. E. Reed came from Reigate, transferred into Brighton by September 1934.
In 1935 Brightom Motorman F. Gurman joined A.S.L.E.F. on 31st June 1935. F. Gurman and A. Pearce (ex Three Bridges & Newhaven) both of them later transferred to the newly opened Motormen's depot at Seaford in July 1935.
Motorman W. H. Reed transferred from Three Bridges to Brighton just prior to June 1935.
LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL
1934
BRIGHTON BRANCH
A happy party attended our ninth birthday: two well decorated tables were filled with happy
children and mothers of our branch. The birthday cake was made by Mrs Pierce, made a
pleasing centre-piece. The Secretary read a letter from our chairman, Mrs Lewery, regretting
her absence through illness; she wished us a happy time and every success for the coming
year. Mrs Walls, Vice Chairman then welcomed the guests, while the nine candles on the cake burned their welcome. Tea was enjoyed amidst the strain of the wireless band. The vice
chairman then cut the cake, which was handed round, and she made a pleasing speech. The
Committee had prepared a surprise for the Secretary and Chairman, and it was a great
disappointment to find the Chairman absent, as she was to have been presented with a cut-
glass bowl filled with trifle, such as she had longed for her visit to Portsmouth birthday tea.
This had to be sent her and the members were pleased to know she was too ill to enjoy it. The Secretary’s cut-glass bowl was filled with fruit and flowers, for which she thanked the
members for their kind thoughts. Mrs Andrews (Hon. Member) then organised games, etc. for the children, and when the happy party finished, every child was presented with a gift and a balloon.
A.M. ANDREWS,
SECRETARY
THIS THE LAST REPORT FROM THE BRIGHTON WOMEN’S SOCIETY
THE DATE OF CLOSURE IS NOT KNOWN AT THIS TIME
ALAN PENTNEY COLLECTION
WOMEN’S SOCIETY BROOCH
LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL
1934
EASTBOURNE BRANCH
A smoking concert was given in honour of our recently-retired member, Bro. G. Hall, one of our stalwart trade unionist of 40 years standing. We were pleased to welcome Organising Secretary Bro. J.V. Sweeney, who made the presentations to Bro G. Hall of a suitably subscribed barometer and a hand-bag to Mrs Hall, with short address regarding our Brother’s long membership and the splendid work of the Society during his long service to the railway company from cleaner to driver, and with a hearty good wish that Bro. G. Hall will have a long years of health in his well-earned rest. Our Loco foreman, Mr R. Steele, also attended and enjoyed our company for the evening, which seemed all too short, and gave us a short record of Bro. G. Hall service from 1889 to 1934. he had been looking for late bookings on duty, but I gather he was unfortunate, and his closing remarks were: “We must have had an angel working amongst us.” We continued our very pleasant evening of song and laughter with a room full of our members and N.U.R. members and their wives, to who a cordial invitation had been extended with a presentation from the traffic dept. at Eastbourne of a set of pipes, pouch and tobacco, with appreciation of a long service at Eastbourne. Our chairman, Bro. J. Langridge, of whom we all have to thank for his hard work in arranging the evening’s programme “made good use of his hammer,” it seemed to get our artistes from nowhere we seemed to be crowed out with talent. I should like to thank all those responded to our chairman’s hammer during that most enjoyable evening at which we were granted an extension of licence till 11-30 p.m., and closed memorable evening with "Auld Langs Syne"
W. HARDY
BRANCH SECRETARY
TOLLING THE BELLES OF CHANGE
PHOTOGRAPHER UNKNOWN
29th June 1934
Staff of the Southern Railway at London Victoria station, changing the name boards on the
front of the ‘Southern Belle’ was to be renamed the ‘Brighton Belle’.
On the 29th June the Southern Railway did further violence to Brighton sentiment by renaming the Southern Belle the Brighton Belle, ostensibly to prevent confusion with the newly introduced Brighton Belle, after twenty six years “the most luxurious train in the world” should not have been allowed to carry on under its old tittle. The fact that the Southern Belle was no longer the one and only all Pullman train of the line and it was probably considered that the word Southern now had a wider connotation, and ought not to be monopolised by the only one of the former constituent companies.
PHOTOGRAPHER UNKNOWN
The inaugural arrival of the
“Electric Brighton Belle”
at Brighton Station on the 29th June 1934
LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL
1934
EASTBOURNE BRANCH
We are still making good headway here, four more new members admitted at our last meeting on June 10th, making a grand total of 20 since January of this year. Our meeting was attended as usual, by the same number of “regulars” who very seldom miss a meeting, and the same number who get first-hand information from our H.O. regarding all working being done by our fraternity. I would appeal to all those very seldom attend to give a few minutes in the branch-room and listen to a few of the facts, and not rumours which are floated occasionally at the depot. Well we still have good business for our L.D.C. to attend to. I think with the help of our stalwarts a lot can be rectified. I wish to remind our members at Eastbourne: “Creeping paralysis” (electrification) is overcoming this district, and will affect all of us in some way or the other: get to your branch meeting and hear or suggest what should or can be done for our benefit. Our short meeting was brought to a close at 3-15 p.m. and re-opened again as an open meeting for all locomotivemen, at which we had with us our Organising Secretary Bro. J.V. Sweeney, who gave us a very good explanation of the Society’s demand for the return of our cuts and conditions and the retention of the Wages Board, explaining some facts and figures which I hope, has enlightened a few of our members. I would have been pleased to have the “nons” listen to his speech, but they are satisfied with any conditions, and do not need help in the return of their cuts. If they did they would not be outside. I suggest if the companies want to save money they take it from those that do not assist in keeping what we have already got. The meeting closed with a hearty vote of thanks.
BRANCH SECRETARY
POSTCARD
Railway accident on the
Southern Railway
Brighton Section
Haywards Heath 8th November 1934
Left ~ Right: Horsham Driver Harry Hodge & his Fireman Jack Francis
Seen in Amberly down yard in c1934