H01 - Reminiscences of Railway Work

Did You Know?

Personal recollections of railways

Nov 24, 20223 min read

French Exchange

British and French enginemen try each other’s locomotives. . . . . . . In the late 1950s, Richard Hardy (who was generally known as Dick...

The Film Archive of Railway Signalling and People (FARSAP)

Nov 21, 20222 min read

E04 - Electrical Engineering

The Film Archive of Railway Signalling and People (FARSAP)

As of November 2022, the FARSAP signalling film archive now has over 200 films. All free to view, they cover signalling locations across...

Bravery Medals awarded to GWR Staff during WW2

Jun 2, 20224 min read

H01 - Reminiscences of Railway Work

Bravery Medals awarded to GWR Staff during WW2

Acknowledging some of those GWR staff decorated for gallantry during World War 2. . . . . . GWR employees were awarded the George Medal...

May 29, 20224 min read

H01 - Reminiscences of Railway Work

The War reaches Northampton

One man’s recollections of railway duties during World War II. . . . . . . . Collecting oral histories is sometimes a race against time...

Mar 27, 20224 min read

H01 - Reminiscences of Railway Work

Railway Homelands

What’s the railway place you most relate to in your memories, and why?. . . . . . We were chatting during a coffee break at a railway...

Mar 18, 20224 min read

H01 - Reminiscences of Railway Work

He drove the Cheltenham Flyer

Jim (J W) Street, started work at age 15 on the Great Western Railway (GWR) as a cleaner in 1891 on a wage of 1/9d a day. By 1895 he had...

Mar 13, 20224 min read

K02 - Railways and the Passenger

What’s in a Name?

The story of W P Allen and the locomotive named after him. . . . . . . It is 1948 at Doncaster Plant, by now British Railways rather than...

Feb 15, 20224 min read

H01 - Reminiscences of Railway Work

Douglas Flett – Recollections

In his own words. Extract from NAROH interview 2001/115. . . . . . My earliest memories were of trains at the bottom of the garden, my...

Jan 1, 20224 min read

E10 - Diesel locos and trains

The End of Falcon Works

Summary: The closure of Brush Falcon Works including the memories of an electrician working there on BR Class 2 diesel locos. . . . . . ....

Dec 27, 20214 min read

Q02 - Model Railways

The Train Set

A model train set made as a Christmas present. . . . . . . ‘…… I can never remember whether it snowed for six days and six nights when I...

Dec 6, 20214 min read

E08C - Operating Steam Locos

Alan’s Arm

Poor loco maintenance and the consequences. . . . . . We were inside the loco shed, under the looming presence of a steam engine, and...

Why they didn’t use the condensing gear on the N2 tanks !!

Nov 29, 20212 min read

H01 - Reminiscences of Railway Work

Why they didn’t use the condensing gear on the N2 tanks !!

Recalled by Mike Hogg :- - reflections of an anonymous GN Lines BR fireman Talking about using condensers on the Widened Lines, I...

Nov 27, 20213 min read

E15 - Safety Engineering

Signal Box Dreams

Signalbox life featuring Cuneo’s ‘On Early Morning Shift’ poster. . . . . . . In days gone by I volunteered to act as host for those...

Oct 24, 20213 min read

E05B - Station design

Sleeping Over

Summary: Railway lodging houses and stories. . . . . . . . I came to this subject a long way round in my oral history interviews. I...

Oct 17, 20214 min read

G03 - Passenger Train Services

Holiday Trains – The Inside Story

Holiday tours by train in the East Midlands including Mystery Tours and Starlight Specials. . . . . . . Rather like you, I imagine, I...

Oct 9, 20214 min read

H01 - Reminiscences of Railway Work

The Fast Duck

Mallard’s speed record and what happened to Driver Duddington and fireman Bray. . . . . . . Friends of the NRM online shop If you live in...

Sep 5, 20214 min read

E15 - Safety Engineering

Signalling Tales

Summary: The stories of Ted Cook, Leicester signalman. . . . . . . Well, you know how it is. It’s a cold November morning but in Ted’s...

Aug 24, 20214 min read

E08C - Operating Steam Locos

A Watery Affair

Problems with water tanks on locomotives, mentioning a problem with Flying Scotsman. . . . . . . ‘Well, it’s basically a kettle on...

Aug 16, 20214 min read

C01E - East Midlands Region

Newfoundpool

A district of inner city Leicester and its origins. . . . . . . In idle moments travelling, masked up, on today’s trains, you can feel...

Aug 8, 20214 min read

E08A - Steam loco history

Whistle While You Work

Types of steam loco whistles and their use. . . . . . . Well, it’s not unreasonable, is it? Just a toot on the locomotive whistle to...

Telephone: 01904 636874
Email: nrm.friends@sciencemuseum.ac.uk

The Friends of the National Railway Museum

Did You Know?