Labourer Rail 1851. Oxford.

[benny1982]

Hi

My 3xgreat grandfather Thomas Edgington was a 28 year old railway labourer in the 1851 census, living at Broadwaters Yard, Queen Street in Oxford. This is quite interesting. He later became a cricketer.

What are the chances of me finding out any information on his career records etc as a rail labourer, or would it just have been a private job agreement etc as I have heard you can trace railway labouring ancestors?

Thanks

Ben

[Geoffers]

First place to look might be the Railway Museum web-site (http://www.nrm.org.uk/research/index.asp)and its advice on researching railway ancestors (http://www.nrm.org.uk/research/railwayrelatives.asp)

TNA has two research guides
Railways: Staff Records (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=124)
Railways: An overview (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=114)

[benny1982]

Hi Geoffers.

Thanks for the links. I'll have a look to see if staff records survive.

Ben

[bjelkier]

You could also try Railway ancestors fhs at www.railwayancestors.org.uk.