70014IronDuke
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- 13 Jun 2015
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The paper cover that I put on my 1961-62 combined volume fell off today. Well, ok, maybe it was last week or last month.
It's the one with a Peak and a Warship on the front at Bristol Barow Road. I think you can see all these from a google search. Not my first Ian Allan combined volume - unfortunately I destroyed my first one (a Castle, IIRC, climbiing up from the Severn Tunnel).
But today, I looked at the back cover for the first time in .. I dunno, half a century, I suppose.
Just to put this into context, when it was prepared for publication, there were 155 ex GWR Castles, 34 ex-SR 4-4-0 Schools, 186 assorted ex-Caledonian Railway 0-6-0 2Fs and 3Fs and 84 Gresley V1 and V2 3-cylinder 2-6-2Ts all still merrily hauling trains. The last steam loco built for BR, 92220, Evening Star, had been in service about 18 months. The hottest traction around were the Deltics which had not all been built.
OK, all of the above is fascinating to railway enthusiasts, but let's look at the back cover. It is an eye opening advert by British Railways. It reads, I quote:
Special starting salaries for boys on
British Railways
British Railways now offer (sic) now offer special salaries to Boys (sic) with four 'O' levels (including English and Mathematics) : or the equivalent in Scotland.
Age London Elsewhere
16 £340 £330
17 £375 £365
18 £410 £400
Look at those figures a whole £10 extra for anyone in London to boot.
And look at the advert didn't BR employ ladies, or think they held out potential for assisting in the modernisation of the railways?
Ha ha! It's a lovely piece of history on more than just railways.
It's the one with a Peak and a Warship on the front at Bristol Barow Road. I think you can see all these from a google search. Not my first Ian Allan combined volume - unfortunately I destroyed my first one (a Castle, IIRC, climbiing up from the Severn Tunnel).
But today, I looked at the back cover for the first time in .. I dunno, half a century, I suppose.
Just to put this into context, when it was prepared for publication, there were 155 ex GWR Castles, 34 ex-SR 4-4-0 Schools, 186 assorted ex-Caledonian Railway 0-6-0 2Fs and 3Fs and 84 Gresley V1 and V2 3-cylinder 2-6-2Ts all still merrily hauling trains. The last steam loco built for BR, 92220, Evening Star, had been in service about 18 months. The hottest traction around were the Deltics which had not all been built.
OK, all of the above is fascinating to railway enthusiasts, but let's look at the back cover. It is an eye opening advert by British Railways. It reads, I quote:
Special starting salaries for boys on
British Railways
British Railways now offer (sic) now offer special salaries to Boys (sic) with four 'O' levels (including English and Mathematics) : or the equivalent in Scotland.
Age London Elsewhere
16 £340 £330
17 £375 £365
18 £410 £400
Look at those figures a whole £10 extra for anyone in London to boot.
And look at the advert didn't BR employ ladies, or think they held out potential for assisting in the modernisation of the railways?
Ha ha! It's a lovely piece of history on more than just railways.