The Many Railway Characters at Blisworth

First, a descriptive piece by John Whitehead:

I have three uncles who worked on the railway. One, a guard at Bletchley worked the 1.20 pm down local through Blisworth one week in six (he also worked to Oxford, Cambridge - both these lines have long since gone, and to Watford). Another was a driver at Wellingborough driving the huge Beyer-Garrett engines (similar to those still seen in South Africa and elsewhere) on coal trains from Nottinghamshire to Cricklewood power station, North London, and the third was a ganger in charge of track maintenance at Kilworth & Welford, a station on the Rugby to Market Harborough line, part of which I believe now lies under the new A14 road! A Blisworth foreman in the 50's named Whitehead is no immediate relation but may be connected distantly about five generations ago as a branch of the Whitehead clan lived at Gayton and several are buried in the churchyard there.

A few other interesting railway characters - there was 'Dusty' Miller at Blisworth, a madcap signalman but a likeable rogue none the less, Jack Eaton, relief signalman at Gayton, Banbury Lane and Heyford to cover holidays and other absences, Bert Reid, signalman at Heyford who used to say "I'm going down to the Garden Gate tonight"; we thought he meant to the bottom of his garden until it was realised the name was that of his local pub, and Harry Duff, another relief signalman at Heyford and Weedon who claimed to see little green men on his night shift. This of course was the time of the Eagle comic, ie. of Dan Dare and the Mekon so "Duffy's little men" became a standing joke. Jack Almond I sadly never met although his predecessor Big Bill Kimbell I did know - he was nicknamed after Big Bill Campbell. His duties included periodic checks on the Gayton and Banbury Lane boxes and he used to cycle along the line when visiting. Signalmen would tip each other the wink when he was about and when he was seen approaching Banbury Lane from Gayton I had to temporarily leave the box as I shouldn't have been there in the first place.

Teddy Morris was also subjected to jokes, such was rural humour at the time. It was claimed that he weighed around 19 stone, his wife weighed around 22 stone and when they were in bed together it was necessary to put planks beneath the bed, piled on bricks each side, to prevent the bed from sagging (no spring mattresses in those days). We'll probably never know if this was true now and I'm not sure if it's politically correct to mention it!  He lived at 35 Stoke Road, Blisworth and worked the Banbury Lane box. Despite being so portly he rode a 1942 Excelsior 98cc auto-cycle, proudly boasting that it would take him up the hill from Banbury Lane towards Gayton "without pedalling".

Next, a piece based on a photograph that has been placed on the website front page for months - "Railway Gang".  I like the way these guys make a friendly huddle.  They are all pea-way (ie. "Permanent Way") staff, maintaining the rail lines over defined sectors.  The photo was taken in the late 1950s.  The identities were worked out by Andy Newbery who, as a railways buff, spent quite a bit of time visiting most of the oldies in Blisworth:  From left to right the names are Harry Goodridge from Shutlanger, Connie Lane's uncle, then there is Arthur Busby nearly hidden behind Harry.  With his bicycle clips on, ready to ride home, is George Clarke, signals engineer who lived to an old age at Elm Tree Cottage.  There are photos of him elsewhere and recently his daughter Susan has published a book about their ancestors.  The young man behind George is not known but some people asked think he was from the Roade sector.  Then there is Ted Monk, with the dark cap.  He is also pictured as a 10 year old pupil at Blisworth school in 1925.  The guy with receding hair is Arthur Yates and the final guy on the right is unknown.  As he is wearing a neat jacket and maybe some ID, he could be from the Roade ticket office.

Finally, another picture of a group of happy railway men.  This was also researched by Andy Newbery for the special reason his dad is in the picture.  This gathering was celebrating Ted's birthday with a clock, some flowers and a photo for posterity.  The hut in the background is the Permanent Way Hut, a tea-makers shelter about 100 yards east along the main line tracks from Milton Crossing.  The Ted was Ted Eyre, third from the left, bolt upright in appreciation; we think he was Ruby Whitlock's father.  From left to right there was Jack White and an unknown guy in the dark trilby, then Ted Eyre and Ted Monk behind him.  It's a few years on from the photo above, perhaps 1960, and Ted Monk has a new cap!  He seemed to like the back row.   Michael Yates was able to recognise himself next, wearing the light overcoat at 22 years of age.  Apparently , being the youngster on the gang he had to organise the flowers and the clock.  The Yates in the photo above is probably a cousin.  The next guy, holding a spade, is Peter Newbery, Andy's father.  The last fellow on the right is a Mr. Chambers and it is thought that he was from the Roade sector.