• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

Railway platelayers

mw0njm.

mw0njm.

A Brummie Dude
platelayers.jpgLooking looking towards Witton station as platelayers and other members of the Permanent Way gang prepare the bridge. Having moved the fully prepared bridge sideways to align with the track the platelayers would only then need to place the ballast, lay the sleepers antrack on either side of the bridge. The bridge replaced one of the arches of a once longer viaduct of ten arches, described as "one of the most beautiful structures on the line of the Grand Junction Railway. The building of Aston shed and the line to Stechford plus other sidings had gradually replaced th viaduct since its opening. The replacement bridge had a much longer span which helped to open up this traffic bottleneck.

i always wondered what the lineside huts were for1661272973220.png
 
I had a great uncle, Howard Williams and his son, David Williams who were "plate layers" on GWR in 1940's-50's, I think based at Tyseley.
 
Has anybody considered the origin of the term "platelayer" when the persons involved in the top image were laying track, that is steel edge rails (then) on wood sleepers and then fixed to the wood by cast iron chairs.

The term "plate" is derived from the times when cast iron or wrought iron plates in the shape of an "L" were fixed to either stone blocks or wood sleepers.
 
The term 'platelayer' was the name used in Britain for the men who laid and maintained the "plateways" that were primarily used for coal haulage in the early 19th century. "plateways" were built using L shaped rails and the vehicles that ran on them did not have flanged wheels. Eventually, around 1830, with the coming of heavier engines and wagons, plateways gave way to edged rails and flanged wheels. Plateways were less able to carry the increased weights, and the track was prone to wear. With the coming of the first railroad and then railways, the word "platelayer" continued to be used to describe those workers.
"Ganger" is a term used to describe the person who would be in charge of a "gang" of platelayers.
"Lengthman" would be a member of the gang of platelayers responsible for a length or stretch of track.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top