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ex-Passed Fireman Nev Monks has kindly provided me with the link positions of all Annesley drivers and fireman on 17th February
1958. These are the ACTUAL lists as posted weekly by the List Clerk.
Any further information would be most welcome.
NO.1 LINK
The "Top Link" was comprised mainly of Class "C" fitted freight jobs, including the "whisky" from Burton. One
anomaly was a Leicester "pick-up" signing on at 08.55.Drivers from this link either passed away, retired, or went into the
"Old Man's" link
NO.2 LINK
This was the passenger link.We worked the London jobs either to Leicester or Woodford. The inter-regional jobs
were worked to Banbury.
NO.3 LINK
The Woodford Link.
Note: When Annesley MPD closed, less than eight years later, 75% of the firemen in this
link had progressed through the links and had been passed for driving!
NO.4 LINK
This Link was the Mexborough and Grimsby link, otherwise known as the "money" Link!
NO.5 LINK
Always known as the "Dido" Link, all the Annesley "Dido"workings were in this link. (see the ANNESLEY DIDO page)This
link also covered Woodford, Stanton Ironworks, local colliery jobs etc.
NO.6 LINK
This link was the "Relief" link.All the firemen were junior passed firemen (early 1940's seniority) who could
be moved four hours either way both for firing and driving jobs. (as could the drivers)
Note: to show an example of the
rapid promotion in the late 50's / early 60's, all the passed firemen in this link were registered drivers when I started
firing in 1960!
NO.7 LINK
The "Old Man's Link"
All the jobs in this link were "daytime" jobs. i.e. signing on between (roughly) 05.55
and 18.00. It comprised of junior drivers and firemen on their way up through the links, and drivers over the age of 60 who
applied to go in this link. The jobs were all local main line workings.
No's 8 & 9 LINKS
The one job No.8 link was (in my time) the 10.55 Hotchley Hill working. Driver Ralph Cumberland was on
this job permanently due to his wife's ill-health.
The driver in 1958 was Councillor Ernest Smith. more details would
be welcome.
No.9 Link was the Preparation & Disposal Link.The firemen were senior Passed Firemen (around 1936/7 seniority)
and the drivers were a mixture of men relegated to shed limits due to eyesight failure and junior drivers making their way
up the links.
| NO.8 LINK (one job) & NO.9 LINK |
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NO.10 LINK
This, the "Pilot" Link was the junior link for firemen. Promotion was slow in the 1950's - Malcolm Perry was
in this link for five years! Drivers were confined to shed & yard limits due to eyesight / health reasons.
NO.11 LINK etc.
This was the "Shed Shunt" Link. A 3-shift link manned by drivers & firemen who were off the main line
for health reasons.
More info please on the next working (Driver R.C Smith)
Driver E.L Bird & Fireman K.J Coleman
were "Loco Shunt", a day job signing on at 06.25
I am guessing that the four remaining firemen had recently been "de-mobbed"
an were waiting to take up their correct link positions.
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