BOMB DAMAGE TO BRIGHTON SECTION OF THE SOUTHERN RAILWAY 

Peckham Rye Depot 6th January 1945

V.E. DAY AT HORSHAM LOCO

Bill Edwards was at Horsham, he took me to the depot on V.E. evening, he was then a fireman then. I remember the turntable rail was covered with detonators (fogs), and an engine was turned on it, after that visit I was more determined to become an engine driver, and from 1945, I was one of several others that cleaned and polished them under the watchful eye of the running foreman, Ernie Clack, father of Horsham driver Harry Clack, and the rest is history!

RODNEY BURSTOW 

The sheer cold courage of the Enginemen throughout the country during the Second World 
War, a place of pride in the ranks of those civilians who helped in country in her darkest hour went unrewarded.

After the cessation of hostilities A.S.L.E.& F. presented to the Railway Executive Committee a claim for a substantial increase of wages and improvements to terms and conditions these were a maximum working of 40 hours, a National Pension Scheme for Enginemen, granting of a fortnights paid holiday, enhanced Sunday rate of pay, payment of sick leave and a universal eyesight test for Enginemen. A.S.L.E.& F. did not receive any of these demands until 1948 after the railways had been nationalised by the Labour Government.

The  National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas (near Lichfield) in East Staffordshire 

site of the national remembrance for railwaymen & women

It would take another six months of hard negotiations by A.S.L.E.F. before its members were given a wage increase, which even then did not adequately meet the higher cost of living. 

This left a feeling of resentment for if it was not for the commitment given by the railwaymen and women in keeping the country moving it could have resulted in a different outcome for the entire Country.

The railwaymen and women of Britain have become the forgotten army, as they played a major part in helping to defeat the Germans whilst remaining on British soil.

Railway accident on the 

Southern Railway 

Brighton Section

 PHOTOGRAPHER UNKNOWN

THREE BRIDGES LOCO SHED

DAVE SHOPLAND & RAY YOUNG

As in the first world war so the larger shed built in the fork of the Brighton and Horsham lines in 1909 with its 50ft turntable, repair facilities and central location on the system proved invaluable not in war time freight traffic but for turning servicing of variety of engines at the time of the Dunkirk evacuation. Once again foreign engines in the shape of London Midland Scottish, 8Fs and others appeared on through trains from the L.M.S. system and War Department 2-8-0’s appeared on the Southern.

After the war the allocation of predominantly ex-L.B.S.C.R. classes gradually gave way to “foreign” types L.M.S. 4P and 2P classes, M7 0-4-4T’s and Q and Q1 Class 0-6-0’s.

In 1945, there were three running links of twelve, one shunting link of six, one shed link of five, made up of “Green Card men” and “Passed Men”, ten Engine Cleaners, three Running Foreman, four Fitters and their mates, five Boiler makers and their mates, ten women shed staff and a Coal-man. This was a total of 94 members of staff employed at Three Bridges loco shed.

Extracted and adapted from

Newhaven Branch Meeting

Sunday October 28th 1945

A letter from the local Labour Party was read for nominations for prospective council members of Labour Party. the question of affliction and re-affiliation to the local Labour Party was raised and it was proposed by Bro. Cossburn. That the request for affiliation to Labour Party lay on the table.

Re the National Programme, its latest negotiations results had statement of items still to be negotiated were read. Proposed by Bro. Bro. Cossburn & seconded by Bro. M. Smith. That Secretary write to journal as 

"That owing to the great dissatisfaction among the members of the A.S.L.E & F. On the National Settlement. All Branches support a motion, through the Journal that before the final acceptance of the negotiations, ballot of members take place for the guidance of the Executive.” 

Carried.

Letter was read re the Manning of the Electric Loco. Notes were given by Chairman on information he had received re proposals for other Railways etc. Proposed by Bro. J. Cossburn & seconded by Bro. E. Collington. “

That the question of Manning of the Electric Locomotive be made an item of the National Programme."

The Chairman gave an outline of the L.D.C. Report mention being made of the points such as Retention of Men over 65, and their possible effect on the annual leave for 1946. Reference was also made to the late issue of overalls and their lack of pockets etc. Also the item of substitution of repairs book for repair cards!