Miscellaneous

2005 celebrated the 150th anniversary of rail in New South Wales and the opening of the Sydney to Parramatta Line. In truth the railway was commenced in 1850 and, because of the gold rushes, took five years to open for business.

I acknowledge the support of the Rail, Tram & Bus Union (NSW) for support in my work to research and perform rail material. The following is a selection of material related to this fascinating pioneer industry and the role the men and women of Australia played in its development.

THE RAILROAD

This monthly Union newspaper appeared in several formats including title changes.
The State Library holds issues from 1927-31.

These, of course, were extremely turbulent times with the position of labour continually under review and also under attack by capitalism and government both retaliating the forces of extreme left wind groups such as the IWW and Communist Party. Whilst it took on the usual business of a union newspaper it is interesting to see how wide the rail industries spanned. Even the Railway Refreshment Room staff conditions were addressed in every issue! It is hard to realise just how massive the rail industry was at this crucial time of Australia's industrial growth ñ it affected so many sectors of manufacturing and service including the supply of rolling stock, timber, water, steel, bridges, leatherwork, coal, electricity, cleaning, mail service, lube and millions of nuts, screws and bolts! The other notable feature is the number of sporting and cultural groups affiliated with the various rail unions.

The following is a sampling of material from The Railroad

MAY DAY

This is typical of the union speak of the time.
The Railroad. Issue: April 1930

The coming May Day has a special significance to the Australian working class ñ it is not only the day of many great battles of the workers all over the world, but it means the opening of a new leaf in the history of the Australian working class. On the 1st of May the workers of Australia will be called upon to stop work, and demonstrate against capitalism, with its wage cuts, rationalisation etc to declare our solidarity with the oppressed workers of other countries. We must intensify the struggle from now until all forms of capitalistic exploitation are abolished.

The following three items appeared alongside an advertisement for the Anti Prohibition and Teetotalism Association. They are all from The Railroad 1928

AN OLD INVENTION

I'm very fond of water
I drink it noon and night
No mother's son or daughter
Hath known more delight!
But I forgot to mention,
'Tis best to be sincere –
I use an old invention,
That turns it into beer.

THE YOUNG LADY OF RYDE

There was a young lady of Ryde
Of eating green apples she died.
Within the lamented,
They quickly fermented,
And made cider inside her inside.

WORKING

Mother's in the kitchen
Washing out the bottles,
Sister's in the pantry,
Taking off the labels,
Father's in the cellar,
Mixing up the hops,
Johnny's on the front porch
Watching for the cops!

SONG OF THE MINER

(Tune: Sing a Song of Sixpence)
Issue 1927 (as Rail Union gazette)

Sing a song of sixpence,
Capitalism's fine –
Four-and-forty hours,
Working down a mine.
Coming up at night
Like goslings in a cage –
What an occupation
For this enlightened age!



In regard to the following song Brian Dunnett, a retired rail worker, comments:
There is a long history of this indicating the custom to raise money for the wife who didn't need the tools but some money to keep going entitlements like super died with the bloke. This happened to my grandfather my grandmother got nothing the day after he died. It still happening to some degree my father who died at Xmas he was on an old pension system mum's entitlements were not just halved but she will be lucky to end up with a third that they both struggled to pay off. Also indicates connections with Workshops

YOUR TOOL BOX WILL BE RAFFLED BY AND BY. By Jo Evans. (Parody: You'll Have Pie, By and By)

Epitaph for a steam engine Could be a rail engine. Source Singleton Cemetery

The Sunshine Railway Smash The Imperial Songster No 87 Specially written by Wilton Grey

THE EVENING STAR. 1979

Cheer up, Me lads, the navvies on the spree
The Company's gone insolvent
And the railways up a tree

BOB THE RAILWAY DOG

Quoted Patsy Adam Smith Outback Heroes
In the 1890s the SA railways had their own dog. It was believed to be the pet of a deceased driver and it retained its nickname of bob the dog. A traveller had a special collar inscribed: Stop me not but let me jog, I am Bob the driver's dog' Bob had a habit of jumping onto the footplates

MISCELLANEOUS

Passengers will refrain
From passing water while the train is at the station
If you feel you really outa please call the railway porter

THE FISH

Papers of Cunningham Henderson
B 1864
MLMSS1863
1864-1950
The 'Fish' train was so-called because the driver's name was Salmon, the fireman was Trout and guard Pike.