Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

283 replies

Correction · 28/05/2025 08:15

Been dating a man for 7 months. He was born 1970 just FYI. His parents were both born in 1927 just for context and both long gone from this world.

I know his mum worked in a care home - but I really don’t know her level of seniority- could’ve bern a manager - could’ve had a more routine job - I haven’t asked.

Anyway - I know he was close to his Dad and seemed to be a happy family but had no clue what his Dad did for a living so asked him over the weekend and he said

‘Shunter for British Rail.

AIBU to ask if you’d class it as a working class job?

OP posts:
MoominUnderWater · 28/05/2025 19:57

Interesting thread. I was looking at jobs on East Midlands rail website a bit ago and shunter drivers were mentioned. I love trains and would love it but eyesight requirements are high I think so not sure I’d pass. I’ve actually applied for their graduate (non driver) scheme. But if I don’t get in I might apply to be a guard.

I think some people are genuinely gob smacked how much more “manual” type jobs earn. I’ve done some very working class, manual jobs in my time inc road building (I have a full Streetworks licence inc tarmacking) and also a sewerage worker.

As a sewerage worker I was earning over 40k in my early 20s, that was 25 years ago! As much as I earn now as a university lecturer!

WheresMyPlanetGone · 28/05/2025 19:55

heavenisaplaceonearth · 28/05/2025 19:04

OP said her great grandmother had 5 children including twins in her 40s last at 47. It really doesn’t matter I was merely expressing my amazement as regardless of what other posters have posted I don’t think it was that common at all.

Show quote history

Do you think the posters who have posted about their personal experiences are lying? I have no idea how common (otherwise!) it was, but I do know that my father was born in 1957 to his 43 year old mother. Youngest of 7 children, she had her first when she was 19.

Katemax82 · 28/05/2025 19:51

Well train drivers get slated horribly for being "overpaid" ( which is absolute horseshit as my husband is one) and shunter is one level down from that. I actually could do the job as I applied to be a train driver and passed almost the whole assessment barr one last bit at the end which isn't required for shunter driver. Of course i wouldn't do the job as I have no childcare and my kids are SEN

missmollygreen · 28/05/2025 19:48

Correction · 28/05/2025 08:22

To be fair I was just stating the facts - I didn’t say I cared and I honestly don’t care !!

Show quote history

Someone who does not care would not have even thought of starting this thread.

GrouachMacbeth · 28/05/2025 19:29

If bfs df was born in 1927 he would likely have started work around the early 1940s. If he retired at 65 he would be likely to have still been employed by British rail. It used to be a very dangerous career and had high instances of nasty accidents and death.
It's less risky now, but still not without risks.

TheTester2 · 28/05/2025 19:10

You sound like such a snob.

he had older parents that worked hard, what’s your problem?

heavenisaplaceonearth · 28/05/2025 19:04

Uricon2 · 28/05/2025 18:29

Not sure what you mean, none of them had 5 babies in their 40s (which I agree would be extremely rare) Sorry if I've missed something.

Show quote history

OP said her great grandmother had 5 children including twins in her 40s last at 47. It really doesn’t matter I was merely expressing my amazement as regardless of what other posters have posted I don’t think it was that common at all.

WheresMyPlanetGone · 28/05/2025 18:34

Correction · 28/05/2025 18:12

Actually no

Show quote history

But now you’ve heard of it you desperately want to be one?

Uricon2 · 28/05/2025 18:29

heavenisaplaceonearth · 28/05/2025 17:51

I would say having 5 babies in your 40s was far less usual than having 5 in your teens. It’s possible both for something to be rare AND for you to know or be descended from someone who experienced it.

Show quote history

Not sure what you mean, none of them had 5 babies in their 40s (which I agree would be extremely rare) Sorry if I've missed something.

Original poster
Correction · 28/05/2025 18:12

WheresMyPlanetGone · 28/05/2025 15:31

Had you even heard of a shunter before your boyfriend told you that his dad had been one?

Show quote history

Actually no

OP posts:
Original poster
Correction · 28/05/2025 18:12

SwanOfThoseThings · 28/05/2025 18:01

It's a fascinating job. Did he shunt for most of his railway career, or was he a passenger/freight driver who moved onto shunting towards the end of his career (drivers often moved to this lower-stress job in the run up to retirement)?

I would guess he shunted for most of his railway career

OP posts:
Original poster
Correction · 28/05/2025 18:11

DelphiniumBlue · 28/05/2025 11:51

You can be well paid and working class. You can be poor and middle class.
This is not America.

Ok no need to quote my least favourite favourite David Bowie song at meGrin

OP posts:
SwanOfThoseThings · 28/05/2025 18:01

It's a fascinating job. Did he shunt for most of his railway career, or was he a passenger/freight driver who moved onto shunting towards the end of his career (drivers often moved to this lower-stress job in the run up to retirement)?

Vynalbob · 28/05/2025 17:54

Yes I'd class it as working class. A good steady employment via BR but you can't compare wages. Around the time privatisation happened (just before to a little after) a lot of perks were thrown away and swapped for increases in wages.

heavenisaplaceonearth · 28/05/2025 17:51

Uricon2 · 28/05/2025 12:47

Totally, my mother/grandmother and great grandmother all had babies in their 40s (gt Gran finished at 52, having started at 15) I really don't think it is that unusual now and certainly wasn't a century ago.

( Edit as meant to quote @WearyAuldWumman )

Edited

I would say having 5 babies in your 40s was far less usual than having 5 in your teens. It’s possible both for something to be rare AND for you to know or be descended from someone who experienced it.

CountryMumof4 · 28/05/2025 17:12

Did you also post about retraining as a shunter in December under a different username?

WheresMyPlanetGone · 28/05/2025 15:31

Correction · 28/05/2025 11:01

Thank you - I’d like to be a shunter but those jobs you’ve mentioned sound good too

Show quote history

Had you even heard of a shunter before your boyfriend told you that his dad had been one?

DurinsBane · 28/05/2025 15:20

Bear in mind, if you fancy being one, that there are different types of shunters jobs. Shunter Drivers drive trains round the sidings, usually in places where there is a maintenance shed. They get paid about 40k. A Shunter (without the Driver part) doesn’t drive the trains, they are responsible for the sidings, pulling hand points, organising where the mainline drivers put the trains in the sidings, seeing service out etc. They will be in places that don’t have Shunter drivers, usually places without a maintenance shed etc. They usually get paid 30k if not a bit lower.

BIossomtoes · 28/05/2025 13:13

Ohmygodthepain · 28/05/2025 12:40

British Rail hasn't existed since it was privatized in 1997.

You'll struggle to find a job with them now op, no matter what status you think working there would provide...

Show quote history

It’s being renationalised as the contracts expire.

Original poster
Correction · 28/05/2025 13:08

NotMeNoNo · 28/05/2025 12:51

It sounds like your DP has solid working class roots and will be a grounded and practical person - snap him up.

I've seen some memes along these lines https://www.reddit.com/r/coolguides/comments/i17z8c/an_updated_improved_version_of_the_social_classes/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button and of course it's just stereotypes but it reminded me there are positives in every level of society.

I love this thanks so much for posting

OP posts:
Justkeepingplatesspinning · 28/05/2025 13:05

accentdusoleil · 28/05/2025 12:59

Someone’s got a Train fetish

waves I love trains! Especially steam trains. Inherited it from my father.

Justkeepingplatesspinning · 28/05/2025 13:02

My father worked for BR back in the day. They treated their staff well, pension, travel passes etc. It was a good place to be no matter if you were driving a train or working in the ticket office. As someone else said, being a shunter was jolly hard work and you needed your wits about you. It was probably blue collar rather than white collar work but it paid well.
I've no idea where it would be in terms of socio economic class. Skilled manual?

accentdusoleil · 28/05/2025 12:59

Someone’s got a Train fetish

NotMeNoNo · 28/05/2025 12:51

It sounds like your DP has solid working class roots and will be a grounded and practical person - snap him up.

I've seen some memes along these lines https://www.reddit.com/r/coolguides/comments/i17z8c/an_updated_improved_version_of_the_social_classes/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button and of course it's just stereotypes but it reminded me there are positives in every level of society.

Is ‘shunter for British Rail’ a working class job?
Uricon2 · 28/05/2025 12:47

Totally, my mother/grandmother and great grandmother all had babies in their 40s (gt Gran finished at 52, having started at 15) I really don't think it is that unusual now and certainly wasn't a century ago.

( Edit as meant to quote @WearyAuldWumman )