[Trivia] Youngest stationmaster?

[weepingwillowb]

While doing some research in Accrington Library yesterday, I came across a report of the appointment of a 20 year-old as stationmaster at Seacombe railway station, which closed in 1963 (passenger services ended on 4/1/1960). Have there been younger men or women appointed as stationmasters?

...."Mr. George Bernard Marsh, eldest son of Coun. and Mrs. A. Marsh, of 4 Park-road, Accrington, who will be 21 in February, has just been appointed stationmaster and goods agent at Seacombe, with charge of Poulton and Liskeard in the Wirral.
...."He may be the youngest stationmaster in the country.
...."Mr. Marsh started as a clerk at Church Railway Station five years ago. He also served at Hapton and Helmshore before going in the R.A.F.
...."He attended St. Oswald's R.C. School, Accrington, and Accrington Secondary Technical School. He passed his examination for the post of stationmaster roughly a month ago.
...."His father, who is also in the railway service, has been a relief stationmaster for the last six years. Several other members of the family have had long railway service."
(Accrington Observer & Times, Tuesday 3rd December 1957)

 

[MisterSheeps]

nope, has got to be the cat at Huddersfield

 

[william.martin]

nope, has got to be the cat at Huddersfield

Or maybe the little mice there that only get 3 minutes of life before they become either Felix's or Bolt's breakfast.

 

[robert thomas]

While doing some research in Accrington Library yesterday, I came across a report of the appointment of a 20 year-old as stationmaster at Seacombe railway station, which closed in 1963 (passenger services ended on 4/1/1960). Have there been younger men or women appointed as stationmasters?

...."Mr. George Bernard Marsh, eldest son of Coun. and Mrs. A. Marsh, of 4 Park-road, Accrington, who will be 21 in February, has just been appointed stationmaster and goods agent at Seacombe, with charge of Poulton and Liskeard in the Wirral.
...."He may be the youngest stationmaster in the country.
...."Mr. Marsh started as a clerk at Church Railway Station five years ago. He also served at Hapton and Helmshore before going in the R.A.F.
...."He attended St. Oswald's R.C. School, Accrington, and Accrington Secondary Technical School. He passed his examination for the post of stationmaster roughly a month ago.
...."His father, who is also in the railway service, has been a relief stationmaster for the last six years. Several other members of the family have had long railway service."
(Accrington Observer & Times, Tuesday 3rd December 1957)

John Davies who later became Provincial Manager Wales was station master at Pontardawe(then freight & parcels only) aged 19 in the early 1960s

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Bramwell Brontë (brother of the literary sisters) was station master at Sowerby Bridge at quite a young age. Someone who isn't me will have to do the research though. He apparently didn't last very long, being sacked due to drunkenness.

 

[hexagon789]

Bramwell Brontë (brother of the literary sisters) was station master at Sowerby Bridge at quite a young age. Someone who isn't me will have to do the research though. He apparently didn't last very long, being sacked due to drunkenness.

Assistant clerk rather than stationmaster and he was promoted from there to 'clerk-in-charge' at Luddendenfoot. It was in the latter post that he was dismissed owing to a discrepancy of £11 in the accounts.

It was attributed to incompetence rather than theft, so was deducted from his wages amd he was dismissed rather than being prosecuted for it.

That was in 1842 when Brontë was 25, he died in 1848 aged only 31.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Assistant clerk rather than stationmaster and he was promoted from there to 'clerk-in-charge' at Luddendenfoot. It was in the latter post that he was dismissed owing to a discrepancy of £11 in the accounts.

It was attributed to incompetence rather than theft, so was deducted from his wages amd he was dismissed rather than being prosecuted for it.

That was in 1842 when Brontë was 25, he died in 1848 aged only 31.

Cheers for the correction and extra info, clearly I'd only half remembered it.

 

[hexagon789]

Cheers for the correction and extra info, clearly I'd only half remembered it.

You were quite correct about alcohol being involved; it's generally suspected Brontë's immediate subordinate stole the £11 when Brontë left him in charge so he could go on a bender.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

You were quite correct about alcohol being involved; it's generally suspected Brontë's immediate subordinate stole the £11 when Brontë left him in charge so he could go on a bender.

£11 in those days is quite the bender!

 

[hexagon789]

£11 in those days is quite the bender!

True, his salary as clerk-in-charge was only £130 a year (about £18,700 in today's money), paid every quarter.

 

[6Gman]

I doubt we will beat Cathal Britton, Stationmaster at Ballintra on the County Dongeal - aged sixteen and a half!

Took over from his father Hugh on his retirement aged 69.

Source: Belfast Telegrapoh 28 Feb 1941

 

[Trackbedjolly]

I have found a possible younger station master or Station Agent as they were called in the 1860s. A 'man' called James Salter was employed by the Deeside Railway Company as a Railway Agent's Assistant or Clerk. This information comes from the 1861 Census where his age is given as 13. In 1863 the company had a vacancy at a nearby station for an (assistant) Station Agent. By December 1865 this 'man' had been demoted after an accident. There are no names available for this person; James Salter turns up again in 1867 at a 'subordinate station' but as a full Station Agent. It is a bit speculative but if it were him then he would have been aged 15 on appointment at Cults.
Besides him the Deeside Railway had several young Agents in the early years and appointment at 18 was not unknown.