What do they think of us?

[Oldddudders]

On 16/07/2023 at 09:10, Krusty said:

 

Much of her attitude probably came from being a woman. An interest in railways and suchlike tends to be primarily a male thing that is looked down on by many/most women.

 

At one railway company where a younger version of me once worked, the nice young women in the marketing department delighted in referring to enthusiasts as "trainsexuals".

I had a very capable and delightful lady colleague in the '80s who shared gricer instincts with her husband. On the office wall she had posted a GA drawing of a steam loco bearing her forename - N15 "Elaine". She then succeeded me as Planning & Investment Manager, Network South Central.  

[Wheatley]

One of the griciest gricers I've ever met was a woman, and a very capable senior manager in a TOC, and a graduate. 

 

I idly wondered aloud where she was one morning and was told "On the way to Penzance". On asking why she was heading for Penzance, which was somewhat off our routes, I was told she was going from there to Aberdeen. The reason was, of course, "mileage". 

[The Johnster]

On the way to a volunteering holiday on the Festiniog, as it was spelled then, in 1968, I sat in the dmu from Shrewsbury with a young lady not much older than me, who, it transpired, was a civil servant working for the Board of Trade Railway Accidents Department, still called that then.  We had a rather illuminating conversation about the Abermule accident and single track block regulations, which of course I would be involved with on the Festiniog ane which we could see in action on the Cambrian, and she was clearly intereted in the railway and it's workings, and enjoyed her Clerical Assistant role.  The first and only ladygirlwoman I ever met who knew what a Double Fairlie was (which I contend definitely qualifies you as an enthusiast, fully paid up life member...), though some of them found out after meeting me!

Edited July 27, 2023 by The Johnster

[4069]

She must have been winding you up- the Railway Department of the Board of Trade ceased to exist in 1919, when the Ministry of Transport was created.

[KeithMacdonald]

On 10/07/2023 at 10:10, kevinlms said:

So how did this body work out whether would be members of this 'specialist team' had a railway hobby, considering many keep it to themselves?

 

It's because of the "special handshake". This is (of course) familiar to all members of The Elucidated Brethren of the Counted Rivet. Who are sworn to conceal (and never reveal) such matters to the uninitiated.

[adb968008]

My little one is 12, she came to me on tuesday night with RTT open pointing to 70000 and asking to go see it.

Shes also less afraid than I am at dismantling a model train.

Shes pretty keen with a camera, heres this weeks efforts..

 

all the photos are by a 12 year old, as long as its safe she chooses her own spot too.

 

 

( The 153 at Banstead involved a 7am start on a school day !)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Being a cute little one shes seen more cabs and footplates than I have at her age!  - though she really wants a 66 !
 

I cant help but notice the hobby and the industry is much more inclusive of women then when I was younger. I notice she looks for other females in the hobby (and has made one female friend of a manufacturer already, at Ally Pally they were off together most of the day and text each other quite often), whilst rearranging the postcards of anothers !

 

She likes old buses too…

We are often out and about on the network watching trains and find staff all round very welcoming.., i’m usually on the video camera, and she likes to do stills.

 

Edited July 28, 2023 by adb968008

[KeithMacdonald]

10 minutes ago, adb968008 said:

Shes also less afraid than I am at dismantling a model train.

 

Highly commendable. 😀

 

That reminds me, I went through a similar phase with my wee ones. I was not much afraid of the dismantling, it was the "re-mantling" that scared me more. When there were parts left over, or parts had mysteriously gone missing.

[KeithMacdonald]

14 minutes ago, adb968008 said:

I cant help but notice the hobby and the industry is much more inclusive of women then when I was younger

 

It's a good thing. I've also noticed the same in the truck driving world.