Memories of Royston
Memories of Steam Bernard Tinker I started work at Royston Motive Power depot on September 19 1961, I was twenty two and I had worked for six years in the mines. My father worked fifty two years in the pits and died from mining-related health problems after twelve months retirement. He died at six thirty a.m. as I came in from a night shift down the pit and seeing him die made my mind up that I was getting out of that environment. Not long after that I went down to the loco sheds at Royston to ask for employment. I was asked some general knowledge questions which were not difficult then sent for a medical at Leeds which I passed and started work on 19th September 1961 at seven thirty a.m. The date was all important as everything in the industry was based on seniority - last in first out. Even the times you signed on for a job when you were spare could be based on seniority date. If you were redundant you would have the choice of a nearer depot if you had the seniority - so you can see it had a great bearing on your career. Progress through footplate life started as Engine Cleaner which entailed cleaning the big steam locos with oily rags quite a messy job. Then after passing an exam you became a Passed Cleaner which meant you could fire the locos when a vacancy was available due to sickness, holidays etc. The next stage was as a Booked Fireman when a full time vacancy occurred. Then, when there was demand, the next stage was Passed Fireman which entailed a quite lengthy oral, written and practical exam so you could become qualified to act as a driver when need arose. The driver’s exam consisted of eight hours questions and answers followed next day by eight hours driving trains, with an inspector who could fail you anytime, it made the car driving test seem like a breeze. If you failed the train driver’s exam three times you were virtually out of a job and, as it 44