St Pancras Station

[Malcolm Hitchens]

Hello List

This is my first posting to this list.

My Grandfather Edward Rule HITCHENS 'worked for the railway'.

Sometime between being discharged from the Royal Marines in 1919 and his marriage in 1925 he became a railway porter. In the mid 1960's he was awarded 'a gold watch' for 40 years service and was working at St Pancras Station in London. I believe he was then possibly a 'head porter'. I heard him say that he used to prepare the 'night boat train' i.e. reservations etc. My guess is he was talking about the boat from Holyhead.

I believe he worked at St Pancras all his working life but.....

1. If he started work at St Pancras in the 1920's which railway company would he have worked for (LMS)?

2. If employment records were taken over in 1948 by British Railways are these records available?

3. Does anyone know of a book available about St Pancras Station which would include personal accounts as opposedight boat train' i.e. reservations etc. My guess is he was talking about the boat from Holyhead.

Many thanks for your time

kind regards

Malcolm Hitchens
Norfolk

[Rod Neep]

Hello List

This is my first posting to this list.

My Grandfather Edward Rule HITCHENS 'worked for the railway'.

Sometime between being discharged from the Royal Marines in 1919 and his marriage in 1925 he became a railway porter. In the mid 1960's he was awarded 'a gold watch' for 40 years service and was working at St Pancras Station in London. I believe he was then possibly a 'head porter'. I heard him say that he used to prepare the 'night boat train' i.e. reservations etc. My guess is he was talking about the boat from Holyhead.

I believe he worked at St Pancras all his working life but.....

1. If he started work at St Pancras in the 1920's which railway company would he have worked for (LMS)?

2. If employment records were taken over in 1948 by British Railways are these records available?

3. Does anyone know of a book available about St Pancras Station which would include personal accounts as opposedight boat train' i.e. reservations etc. My guess is he was talking about the boat from Holyhead.


Until 1923 it was The Midland Railway Company, and then, after "grouping" in 1923, the LMS (London Midland and Scottish)

The Holyhead boat train departed from Euston Station (LNWR/LMS)

regards
Rod

[Malcolm Hitchens]

Hi Rod

Many thanks for your reply. I have just found a site which suggests that the boat train from St Pancras may have gone to Stranraer in Scotland.

kind regards

Malcolm Hitchens

[Fulhamster]

My grandfather who used to live in Fulham worked for the railways. Would anybody know if there are records stored anywhere/ I am going to log off now and have a quick look on the net. I will come back with any info I can get.
All the very best,
Reg.

[Fulhamster]

Had no luck yesterday, but, ahelpful soul said that they had some information that may be of help. When I receive it I shall post it!
All the very best,
Reg.

[Kinnockthecat]

Railway records, those of which that survive are kept at the TNA in Kew see
http://www.catalogue.nationalarchives.gov.uk/rdleaflet.asp?sLeafletURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecatal ogue%2Enationalarchives%2Egov%2Euk%2FLeaflets%2Fri 2189%2Ehtm&lBack=-1 I hope the link works :) If not try searching for "Railway Records" from the main page of the TNA website at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/default.htm .

[Fulhamster]

Many thanks for that Phil, The chap that promised me some more info has never come back to me!
All the very best,
Reg.

[Jessica1877]

Dear Malcolm Hitchens,

I wonder if you can help me. I've been trying to find out more about my Hitchens, who appear to have been from Burnley. I am particularily interested in my ancestor Ellen Mary Hitchens, known as 'The Rose of Burnley.'

Ellen Mary Hitchens was born in about 1802 in Burnley, Lancashire.

I believe, as I've searched the IGI that her parents were:

William Hitchens and Betty (maiden name unknown)

Ellen Mary was known as 'The Rose of Burnley'
(or maybe she was only known as either 'Mary' or just 'Ellen' but when married and in the census she appears as 'Mary' Robinson (nee Hitchens)

She had several sisters, one of which was in turn known as
'The Lily of Burnley'

She is my great great great great grandmother. I think she died in the late 1870's or early 1880's.

If you've traced your Hitchens back to Lancashire or know of a Lancashire connection, I'd love to know.

Any info would be most appreciated

Thanks

Take care

Bye for now

Jessica S Fox

[Malcolm Hitchens]

Hi Jessica

Sorry I a unable to help. My HITCHENS came from Gwennap in Cornwall.

God luck in your research

regards

Malcolm Hitchens

[Jessica1877]

Dear Malcolm,

Ah well, more googling and board browsing to do then!!

Thanks for your reply.

Take care

Bye for now

Jess