THIS WEBSITE, THE BRIGHTON BRANCH OF A.S.L.E.&F.
HAS NOW BEEN MOVED TO A NEW SITE CALLED
IGNITING THE FLAMING OF UNITY
http://ignitingtheflameofunity.yolasite.com/1923.php
PLEASE CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO TRANSFER TO THIS NEW SITE
CLICK ON THE ABOVE IMAGE TO TAKE YOU
TO THE NEW UPDATED COMBINED AND WEBSITE
IGNITING THE FLAME OF UNITY WEBSITE
THIS WEBSITE COMBINES THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES
THE BRIGHTON A.S.L.E.&F., THE BRIGHTON MOTIVE POWER DEPOTS
& THE SUSSEX MOTIVE POWER WEBSITES
WHICH EXPLAINS THE EVOLUTION OF THE FOOTPLATE GRADES AND THE HISTORY OF THEIR TRADE UNIONS AND THE STRUGGLES TO IMPROVE THEIR WORKING LIVES
If I’m designed yon lording’s slave, Bye nature’s law designed.
Why was an independent wish, ever planted in my mind?
If not, why am I subject to his cruelty, or scorn?
Or why has man the will and the power to make his fellow mourn?
Robbie Burns
THE 1920s
BRANCH SECRETARIES
R. COX 1920 - 1921 &
(Footplate Seniority, no date available)
H. BEALL 1922 - 1929
(Footplate Seniority 12.07.1897)
At the stroke of midnight on 31st December 1922, the London Brighton & South Coast Railway ceased to operate as an independent company and become part of the Southern Railway. The Southern Railway incorporated two other railway companies, the South Eastern Railway and the London & South Western Railway. The new Southern Railway operated railway lines in the Southern part of England, from Kent to North East Cornwall.
With Railway Grouping of 1923, it led to the hold up in promotions for many footplatemen at Brighton. This was due to the amalgamation having opened up a much larger catchment area for new drivers and firemen, and each new vacancy was now taken up by the most senior applicant, no matter where come from in the Southern Railway territory. As it happened there was a spate of redundancies on former London & South Western Railway. And to enginemen at Brighton, it soon began to seem as if every chance of promotion was being taken by ‘South Western’ men, who were willing to move house in order to secure or regain their appointment.
Things did not improve much, as it was not very long before the ‘Southern Electric’ system began to spread out in the London area of the South Eastern side of the Southern Railway, which meant the closure of steam sheds such as Slade Green and Orpington being two such depots.
And so, at Brighton, the steady influx persisted. Men from ‘ South Western’ and a few ‘South Eastern’ men continued to take up most of the new appointments; and meanwhile, many of Brighton’s own ‘passed’ men were getting rather old for firing duties, many being in their late thirties or older. In the long run a lot of the Brighton’s own ‘passed’ men had to pull up their roots in order for them to escape from the shovel and moved elsewhere to get their promotion, with some of them never transferring back to Brighton.
An influx of 'South Western' would re-occur again during the mid 1950s.
Adapted from the book
Yesterday Once More
By Fred Rich
LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL
1922
BRIGHTON BRANCH
It is with deep regret I have to report the death of Bro. F. Wilson, who passed away after a brief illness, at the age of 51. It
came as a great surprise to the whole of the members of the Branch. He was greatly respected by all. The funeral took place
on the 2nd of March, 45 members followed him from his residence to the cemetery, and six members acted as bearers from the
chapel to the grave. He was a member of the Assurance Fund, and the widow wishes to thank Mr. Bromley for the prompt way
in which the claim was settled.
BRANCH SECRETARY
TIM WOOD COLLECTION
LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL
1922
BRIGHTON BRANCH
It is with deep regret I have to record the death of one of our members, Bro. James Charles Turk, who met a fatal accident
while firing on a motor train between Brighton and Worthing, on Saturday, September 2nd. The funeral of our late Brother
took place on Thursday, September 7th, when about 80 Drivers and Firemen followed him to his last resting - place, six of
them acting as bearers; also, about 20 attended from the Traffic Department. The coffin and hearse were covered in wreaths,
and a cab was engaged to take the remainder, there being 54 in all. It was a very impressive sight, and crowds of people
showed their sympathy by standing while the cortege passed. Our late Brother joined up in the R.F.A. during the war, and
some splendid wreaths were sent from the regiments with which he served in Mesopotamia. Our deepest sympathy goes to his
relatives, also to the young lady to whom he was shortly to have been married.
BRANCH SECRETARY
*James Turk was known to many as Jack, his regular driver at the time of his accident was Harry Thompson
On 30th September, 1922, Brighton Driver John Yeates was moving his engine No. 329, 'Stephenson,' on to the Brighton turn
table. As often occurs the balance was wrong and before turning could commence, Driver Yeates had to reverse a short
distance and then run slowly forward across the turn table until the engine's weight was correctly poised. Unfortunately, he
forgot the superheater had to be taken into account and although the regulator was closed in time, Stephenson rolled
majestically on and over the turn table, through an 8ft.-high brick wall crashed into New England Road injuring a passer by.
WINDMILL BRIDGE JUNCTION
13th NOVEMBER 1922
On the morning of 13th November, 1922, Driver Walter White with his Fireman Peters, had left Coulsdon a few minutes late
with the 8.42 a.m. to Victoria and had proceeded with caution observing all signals until the Windmill Bridge Junction home
signal which was at danger. Here fog suddenly thickened and visibility fell to a few yards, and Driver White missed a sighting,
but on receiving a shout from his fireman on the other side of the footplate, who was nearest the fogman, he opened the
regulator and increased speed. This proved fatal, since the shout was a warning, and before the misunderstanding could be
rectified when a 'Gladstone Class', engine No. 172 and the first three carriages came off the track at the diamond crossing to
the down line. So far, damage and injuries were slight, but Brighton Driver John Scutt and his Fireman Lawes, were working
their Baltic Class engine No. 330, was approaching at speed with the 8.10 a.m. Pullman Express from Brighton and only
escaped crashing into the derailment by its driver having a sudden feeling that all was not well and applying the brakes. At
the inquiry Driver White was critcised for not making sure the road was his, while the signalman at Windmill Bridge Junction
received adverse comment for having accepted the 8.42 a.m. and set the signals and points accordingly, only to change his
mind and reset the road for the more important Pullman Express. In foggy weather it was contrary to the Company’s
regulations.
BUILT AT LANCING, TESTED IN BRIGHTON
The photo on left, is taken outside Brighton Lovers Walk
carriage painting shop in approx 1924/5 before
conversion to an E.M.U.T. Depot in 1932.
The unit is a 3 SUB for the South Eastern Electrification
scheme converted from ex L.S.W.R. steam stock the
painting and trimming of these units took place at
Lancing Works. The units were steam hauled to Lovers
Walk where the electrical equipment was installed. Hence
the third Rail only on one road, it is thought this was for
testing the units before they were steam hauled over to
the South Eastern Division of the Southern Railway.
ANDREA THORNE COLLECTION
PHOTOGRAPHER UNKNOWN
Lover's Walk Paint Shops
1924 Strike
LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL
FEBRUARY 1924
ASLEF General Secretary Jack Bromley opening comments in the February 1924 Strike edition of the Locomotive Journal
During the strike, there were a number of engine drivers who made themselves available for work, these included (seven*)
engine drivers belonging to A.S.L.E.F., and a much larger number of drivers from the N.U.R. members, and "Nons." totally
over 45 drivers
Owing to there being to many Drivers and not enough Firemen, this caused a problem regarding the manning of the
locomotives, the Southern Railway, reached an agreement with the N.U.R. to allow their drivers to be paired up with each
other, with one of the drivers acting as a Fireman.
Attempts were also made to get the available drivers to travel to Victoria, as the demand for conveyance to that place was the
most pressing the drivers were obdurate. Trains arriving at Brighton were immediately dispatched back to the place of their
departures.
* According to the figure recorded in the Newhaven Branch minute book
BRIGHTON 1924 STRIKE COMMITTEE
On the evening of Thursday 24th January, a conference was organised by the Strike Committee of the Brighton Branch of
A.S.L.E.F., and was held at the Brighton Labour Institutional, in London Road, Brighton, The Branch Secretary, H. Beall
addressed an audience which included a larger number of the wives of the men on strike. He said, that the strike would not
have arisen if the finding of the Wages Board had been accepted.
A resolution had been passed by the Brighton Branch to the effect that they deplored the actions of the N.U.R. drivers and
firemen who were working other than their own turns, and in some instances, excessive hours.
With a view to keeping the strikers off the streets, concerts were being held during the evenings. The Brighton branch of
A.S.L.E.F., decided that all the pickets were to be withdrawn, as there was little prospect of trouble between the various
sections.
A.S.L.E.&F. COLECTION
The 1924 London Central Strike Committee
Back Row L-R W. Reynolds (New Cross), C.C. Thompson (Staff), A. Randall (Nine Elms),
J. Langridge (Eastbourne).
Middle Row A.J. Taylor (King's Cross), G. Smith (Stratford), S. Worcester (Dorking).
Front Row W.J. Hardy (Paddington), J. Ryder Secretary (Plaistow), W. Courts Chairman (Wilsden),
J.T. Soundy (Bow).
ALAN PENTNEY COLLECTION
A.S.L.E.F.M.&C. 1924 Strike Fob front & rear.
(Motormen & Cleaners)
On Sunday 20th January 1924 a 9 day national strike of A.S.L.E.F. took place over reductions of the wages and working
conditions of Enginemen and Firemen imposed by the National Wages Board.
Above some 1924 Strike poster and
below the cover of the February 1924 Strike edition of the Locomotive Journal
As a result of this strike saw the formation of the A.S.L.E.F. Women’s Guild, with many branch being set up around the
countrty. These Women Guild's were mainly founded in cities and large towns.
On April 26th 1925 saw the opening of the Brighton Branch of the A.S.L.E.F Women’s guild.
For more details regarding the Brighton's Women's Guild please go to the next page.
ALAN PENTNEY COLLECTION
A.S.L.E.F.'s Women's Society Fob
The "Machinery of Negotiation" with a Sectional Council (now known as Company Council) and Local Department
Committees (L.D.C), came into force in June 1924.
There was on going problems of representation for the Motorman Grade within the 'Society' as there was no recognition special position
The General Strike 3rd ~ 12th May 1926
The greatest strike in the history of Great Britain, and possibly the greatest that the world has witness.
Please go to the General Strike page and see how its affects had on Brighton, and the surrounding area.
WHO SHOULD DRIVE THE STEAM CARS
PHOTOGRAPHER UNKNOWN
An argument took place between A.S.L.E.F. and the Southern Railway, regarding which footplate department drivers should work the Sentinal Steam Wagons, Petrol Cars, etc. This was brought about when that men other than loco-men were working on Sentinal Steam Wagons, Petrol Cars, etc. It was agreed in October 1929; that in future that only loco-men were to have this class of work within their depots.
A letter was sent from Head Office to all Branches in respect of men working on Sentinal Steam Wagons, Petrol Cars etc. It was pointed out that men other than Loco-men were being employed to drive these. But owing to our Head Office negotiations only Loco-men were to have this class of work in future
(NHVN 27.10.29).
Sentinel steam rail car
LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL
JULY 1929
BRIGHTON BRANCH
Brighton Branch deeply regret the death of Bro. L. Skinner after along illness. Many late workmates attended the funeral, six
acting as bearers, and floral tributes were sent from the shed. Sympathy is extended to the widow and relatives in their
bereavement.
THE BRIGHTON BRANCH OF A.S.L.E.&F. WEBSITE.
HAS NOW BEEN MOVED TO A NEW SITE CALLED
IGNITING THE FLAMING OF UNITY
https://ignitingtheflameofunity.yolasite.com/
PLEASE CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW
TO TRANSFER TO THIS NEW SITE
CLICK ON THE ABOVE IMAGE TO TAKE YOU
TO THE NEW UPDATED COMBINED AND WEBSITE
IGNITING THE FLAME OF UNITY WEBSITE
https://ignitingtheflameofunity.yolasite.com/
THIS WEBSITE COMBINES THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES
THE BRIGHTON A.S.L.E.&F., THE BRIGHTON MOTIVE POWER DEPOTS
& THE SUSSEX MOTIVE POWER WEBSITES
WHICH EXPLAINS THE EVOLUTION OF THE FOOTPLATE GRADES AND THE
HISTORY OF THEIR TRADE UNIONS AND THE STRUGGLES TO IMPROVE
THEIR WORKING LIVES
CLICK ON THE ABOVE IMAGE TO TAKE YOU
TO THE NEW UPDATED COMBINED AND WEBSITE
IGNITING THE FLAME OF UNITY WEBSITE
https://ignitingtheflameofunity.yolasite.com/
THIS WEBSITE COMBINES THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES
THE BRIGHTON A.S.L.E.&F., THE BRIGHTON MOTIVE POWER DEPOTS
& THE SUSSEX MOTIVE POWER WEBSITES
WHICH EXPLAINS THE EVOLUTION OF THE FOOTPLATE GRADES AND THE
HISTORY OF THEIR TRADE UNIONS AND THE STRUGGLES TO IMPROVE
THEIR WORKING LIVES
The Evening Argus Archive
extracted & adapted
The Southern Belle celebrates it’s 21st anniversary, on Friday 1st November 1929,
driven by Brighton Driver W. Coughtry who was fireman on first trip - celebrates her “coming of age”.
The Southern Belle, was introduced on the 8th November 1908 and was described as
“the most luxurious train in the World.”
Driver W. Coughtry started on the footplate 4th July 1893, and transferred to Brighton’s Motormen depot in
1932 when the depot was opened. He joined the Brighton Branch of A.S.L.E.F. in 1909, and died in 1938
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/famous-trains-birthday-party