|
ex-Passed Fireman Nev Monks has kindly provided
me with the link positions of all Annesley drivers and fireman on 17th February 1958. These are the ACTUAL lists as posted
weekly by the List Clerk.
Any further information would be most welcome.
NO.1 LINK
The "Top Link" was comprised
mainly of Class "C" fitted freight jobs, including the "whisky" from Burton. One anomaly was a Leicester "pick-up" signing
on at 08.55.Drivers from this link either passed away, retired, or went into the "Old Man's" link
NO.2 LINK
This was the passenger link.We
worked the London jobs either to Leicester or Woodford. The inter-regional jobs were worked to Banbury.
NO.3 LINK
The Woodford Link.
Note:
When Annesley MPD closed, less than eight years later, 75% of the firemen in this link had progressed through the links and
had been passed for driving!
NO.4 LINK
This Link was the Mexborough
and Grimsby link, otherwise known as the "money" Link! (this is the link I was in when I transferred from Annesley to
Toton)
NO.5 LINK
Always known as the "Dido"
Link, all the Annesley "Dido"workings were in this link. (see the ANNESLEY DIDO page)This link also covered Woodford, Stanton
Ironworks, local colliery jobs etc.
NO.6 LINK
This link was the "Relief"
link.All the firemen were junior passed firemen (early 1940's seniority) who could be moved four hours either way both for
firing and driving jobs. (as could the drivers)
Note: to show an example of the rapid promotion in the late 50's / early
60's, all the passed firemen in this link were registered drivers when I started firing in 1960!
NO.7 LINK
The "Old Man's Link"
All the jobs in this link were "daytime"
jobs. i.e. signing on between (roughly) 05.55 and 18.00. It comprised of junior drivers and firemen on their way up through
the links, and drivers over the age of 60 who applied to go in this link. The jobs were all local main line workings.
No's 8 & 9 LINKS
The one job No.8 link
was (in my time) the 10.55 Hotchley Hill working. Driver Ralph Cumberland was on this job permanently due to his wife's ill-health.
The
driver in 1958 was Councillor Ernest Smith. more details would be welcome.
No.9 Link was the Preparation & Disposal
Link.The firemen were senior Passed Firemen (around 1936/7 seniority) and the drivers were a mixture of men relegated to shed
limits due to eyesight failure and junior drivers making their way up the links.
| NO.8 LINK (one job) & NO.9 LINK |
|
|
NO.10 LINK
This, the "Pilot" Link was
the junior link for firemen. Promotion was slow in the 1950's - Malcolm Perry was in this link for five years! Drivers were
confined to shed & yard limits due to eyesight / health reasons.
NO.11 LINK etc.
This was the "Shed Shunt"
Link. A 3-shift link manned by drivers & firemen who were off the main line for health reasons.
More info please on
the next working (Driver R.C Smith)
Driver E.L Bird & Fireman K.J Coleman were "Loco Shunt", a day job signing on at
06.25
I am guessing that the four remaining firemen had recently been "de-mobbed" an were waiting to take up their correct
link positions.
|
