Is ‘shunter for British Rail’ a working class job?

If you don’t care then why are you even thinking about this 🙄

There is a difference between being curious about what someone did for a living and what the job entails, and pigeon-holing them in to a class. You sound like perhaps you come from a higher ‘class’, whatever that means and you’re worried about some sort of external perception.

Skilled manual worker

My dhs parents were a coach driver and a dinner lady. They were the kindest most amazing people who raised 4 incredible sons.
My mother came from a background of private school, intense snobbery and money and she was a very unpleasant, nothing was ever good enough, discontented narcissist.
I know where I wish I'd been brought up

Agree.

I work on what would probably be considered a "middle class" role. DH definitely in a "working class" profession (one of the ones you mentioned, although now in a more managerial role).

Firstly, he earns more than me. Secondly, I'd take him and most of his peers over the men I work with because they are generally very family orientated and just all round good blokes. The men I work with seem like hard work for the most part!

Exactly what I was thinking

I would really appreciate it, op, if you would explain why you started this thread and what are your thoughts about the fact that your bf’s parents are working class. This is an extremely frustrating thread to read as it stands

Some working class jobs are well paid. Can you clarify what you mean?

Id agree a credit to the unions, but about 60/70k a year to drive a glorified bus that doesn't need steering?? And the underground which they all complain about but there's a heck of a waiting list and virtually anyone who gets a job has been on a long list and/or waiting on an existing staff member and then work for 30yrs+ for un 'unwanted job' - its a racket - some underground drivers are on over £100k - again - for a job no-one wants lol - they are queuing for it. My neighbour (retired) is 74 and drove proper trains - East Grinstead to Victoria every day for 45years and never earned more than 45£ and he had 4 suicides on his time - he'd stop and BTP would ask where the body was, the answer was the head was under a wheel and the rest was splattered over a mile at 85mph. Harsh - but that's the humour they had to use - like any nurse/midwife/fireman etc. But he earned £45K and not £100+ on the underground and that is ridiculous - especially when the Liz line can be run without a driver at all.

She’s not saying 50’s is too late to date, it’s too late to be so childish about your partners parents work.

It’s really weird to be so invested in your partners parents jobs especially when they’re no longer around.

https://gwili-railway.co.uk

You might get some volunteer work here - this is my manor and they love volunteers and it really is a good gig. They've got a lot of support from the local "Unpaid Community Workers" as well which is actually an excellent bunch of "ne 'do ' wells and a 5bunch of 5 days a week really helps. They are genuinely a nice bunch

In the UK railway related jobs have a tradition of being heavily unionised, which is why they are well paid despite being working class trades. It is a credit to the power of unions, and more underpaid workers should follow their lead and unionise properly.

its reasonably well paid now, but not in the 1960s and 70s. Rank-wise it fell halfway between a porter and a guard.

When I was a kid there was a telly series called the Wheeltappers and Shunters Club - it was a kind of working man’s club with different acts on. Suggests they were important enough jobs that those in them might have their own social clubs.
As trains now come as four car units I don’t imagine there’s so much call for shunters.

I’d choose a plumber, joiner, shunter, electrician, kitchen fitter, or any other working-class job over freelance artist or freelance photographer any day.

bizarre to be concerned about boyfriends parents jobs - even more so when both are dead, and would have retired in the 1980's that's 35+ years ago FFS.

Hope BF spots the red flags and escapes,

It’s never too late. What do you want to do? It’s a long time to state pension age.

Kindly, if you were born in 1972 you must be 52 or 53 - why are you so worried about class? I was born to working-class parents and am very well-educated with a professional job, but still think of myself as working-class.

With an engine. Driven by a qualified engine driver. Not by the shunter.

It's not. Follow passions whenever, as long as it's physically possible.

It is strange behaviour to suddenly decide in your 50s that your passion in life is a job you hadn't heard of prior to finding out your boyfriends dead dad used to do it and is incredibly physically demanding and a lot of work for not huge returns.

I think the phrase was “not unusual” but I honestly can’t be bothered to read back. I personally think it’s extraordinary that a woman in the 18 hundreds had 5 children between 40 and 47. I think it’s fairly unusual for OP to have so many late pregnancies in her family. The chances to me seem slim. If you personally find it unremarkable then by all means don’t remark. The great thing about Mumsnet and life generally is you can absolutely draw your own conclusions and share or not share them at will.

It was because you said ‘contrary to what posters have said I don’t think it was that common’. Posters have only given their own personal/family experiences, not said it was common.

No why would they be lying? The youngest of 7 is very different to 5 in your 40s. Not least because conceiving and carrying to term in mid to late 40s naturally IS rare.

@Correction
Are you going through a bit of a personal crisis or are you very easily influenced or is there something going on?

It’s very strange behaviour to here about your boyfriend’s late dad’s job, go look at how much it paid, start a thread asking if he is working class, and then claim you really want to apply for the job yourself… in your 50s. It’s a very strange reaction.