THE SUSSEX MOTIVE POWER DEPOTS

IGNITING THE SUSSEX BEACONS

OF UNITY

THE HISTORY OF THE

SUSSEX BRANCHES OF A.S.L.E.F.

EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY

One of the main reasons for doing these web sites is to try and explain to everybody the history of the footplate grades, the conditions they had to work in and the creation of the A.S.L.E.F. branches within the Brighton & Sussex area.

I am therefore very grateful for people sending me personal photos from their personal collection and for allowing me to display them on the web sites. But unfortunately what is missing, are the stories that accompany them. What I want to do is to try and remedy this by starting to record the remaining stories that are still out there, before they too are lost in the midst of time.

I have added some information about some of the drivers that I know and the comments that have already have been sent to me.

If you too have any stories about your own working life on the footplate, the people that you worked with and the conditions you had to work in please send me and I will post, on the web site.

If you are interested in helping me in capturing these stories by any means possible please let me know.

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the history of the Brighton Branch of ASLEF

Click on the icon above for

the Brighton Motive Power Depot

A.S.L.E.F. BRANCH SECRETARIES 1908 - 1983

LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL

DECEMBER 1912

PAGE 567

WEST CROYDON BRANCH.

On November 10th two open meetings were held at the Bridge Inn, West Croydon, the club-room of this branch. Brothers J. Cordrey and A. E. Harrison gave a full report of the interviews with our locomotive engineer, Mr. L. Billinton, and the board of directors of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway. The attendance at the first meeting, which commenced at 12.30 p.m., was not as large as we expected, but those locomotive-men' who did attend were greatly interested in the reports given by both of the delegates, while their appreciation was signified by passing a vote of thanks to the delegates, with which was coupled an invitation for them to attend West Croydon Branch at some future date. A very interesting fact in connection with this meeting was that we had a member of the A.S.R.S. as chairman.

The attendance at the evening meeting showed a great improvement upon the •earlier one, many locomotive-men coming over from Epsom in order to hear at first hand of the concessions which had been granted to the footplate workers on this line. At this meeting several grievances were discussed, when the general opinion seemed to be that if the complaint was made in the proper quarter these grievances would soon be rectified. Both •delegates repeated their report, which was satisfactorily received, after which several questions were asked, all of which were answered to the gratification of our members. After this was finished there was only just time to propose a vote of -thanks, which was carried unanimously, to Brothers Cordrew and Harrison for i:heir attendance and their lucid explana- tions of the concessions.

Having held a special meeting to discuss the making of a presentation to our delegate, Brother P. Wright, London, Brighton and South Coast Railway, it was resolved to invite Brother A. Harrison, who was chairman of the deputation, to take the chair at an open meeting to be held at the Co-operative Hall, Gamier St., Fratton, on Sunday, November 17th, for this purpose. It was also proposed and carried that we invite Brother J. Cordrey, another of the delegates, to attend and give an address. The meeting eventually took place at the arranged time, when our chairman, in his opening remarks, thanked the members of the Portsmouth Branch for the invitation which they had given him for the second time in two years, and said it gave him pleasure to be amongst those once more with whom he had spent his cleaning days, but more so because since his last visit as their chairman he was informed they had seen proper to organize themselves nearly to a man, therefore encouraging those who were elected to represent them before the chief engineer and board of directors. The chairman addressed the meeting for 30 minutes, after which he called upon Brother J. Cordrey to give a full report of the meeting with the locomotive engineer and the board of directors, and the concessions granted by same. After this was done a number of questions were asked and answered to the questioners' satisfaction. The chairman, on behalf of the men, then presented Brother P . Wright, delegate from Portsmouth, with a hand- some marble clock, and in his remarks stated that it was a pleasure to be there to present this token of appreciation from the men, as it was a recognition of the good work done by him on their behalf. Brother P. Wright very suitably replied, after which the meeting closed at 2.0 p.m. Nearly every London, Brighton and South Coast Railway locomotive-man attended this meeting, as well as some London and South-Western Railway men, and it has left a good impression.

ONE OF THE BOYS.

Click on the icon above for

the history of the Brighton Branch of ASLEF

Click on the icon above for

the Brighton Motive Power Depot