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AIBU?

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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:
Bbq1 · 28/05/2025 11:17

Correction · 28/05/2025 10:39

I don’t work
bf works in a night club

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Oh dear Op, I think work in a nightclub might be seen as a working class job. You don't even work! Is there a reason you don't work? This information makes your comments about his dad's job all the worse. It's really strange to fixate on his father's past career. Why not learn everything you can about working in a club instead! Working class means nothing really. In my mind anyyone working, in whatever job,is working and that's what counts. Maybe you need a job to take your mind off everyone else's.

JeremiahBullfrog · 28/05/2025 11:17

Needspaceforlego · 28/05/2025 09:36

Not sure why it matters to you.

But to be a steam engine driver it took 5 years of training. They were the Airline Pilots of their day.
A shunter would have had the same training as a driver.

Would you say a airline pilot was working class?

An airline pilot doesn't spend their days standing in front of a blazing furnace covered in soot and grease!

(Also surely the airline pilots of the mid-20th century were ... airline pilots? Plenty of train driving work was entirely unglamorous and was replaced not with aeroplanes but with buses and HGVs.)

JeremiahBullfrog · 28/05/2025 11:12

I would find it incredible that driving a piece of heavy, dirty machinery could be considered anything other than working class!

Maybe you could make an argument for modern passenger train driving not being working class anymore. But certainly not a traditional shunting job!

donthaveaname · 28/05/2025 11:10

Correction · 28/05/2025 11:06

Ok - another one just came to me - what about

railway plate layer?

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now you're just taking the piss!!! 😂😂😂

PandorasJam · 28/05/2025 11:09

Go for it and join us here in the working classes. I am a knocker-upper for mill workers in the early mornings, but I consider myself upwardly mobile, or at least my pole is.

Original poster
Correction · 28/05/2025 11:06

AthWat · 28/05/2025 11:03

Yeah, just go down the local railway station and say you'd like to try out a few different jobs before settling on one. You might have to wait until Monday to start now though.

Show quote history

Ok - another one just came to me - what about

railway plate layer?

OP posts:
Bjorkdidit · 28/05/2025 11:05

AthWat · 28/05/2025 11:03

Yeah, just go down the local railway station and say you'd like to try out a few different jobs before settling on one. You might have to wait until Monday to start now though.

Show quote history

FFS I meant see what vacancies they have and apply for something she's qualified for or get on a training scheme. Obviously Hmm.

heavenisaplaceonearth · 28/05/2025 11:05

Floatlikeafeather2 · 28/05/2025 10:25

It's not unusual at all. Women went on having babies for as long as they were able to conceive. They started young and finished late. Reliable contraception wasn't available, or any contraception at all for most women. Men regarded sex with their wife as their right and women regarded it as their duty. The phrase was conjugal rights. My great grandmother had thirteen babies, 11 of whom survived. She didn't marry until her mid 20s and must have had her last child in the 2nd half of her 40s. This wasn't unusual at all.

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My understanding is that conception and carrying to term in late 40s is highly unlikely, early 40s less likely. I would say 5 children back to back in your 40s with abysmal medical care (comparatively) was rare. It’s interesting that lots of people have posted supporting the idea that large families born in your 40s is the norm when we know fertility plummets at this stage in most women’s lives.

Original poster
Correction · 28/05/2025 11:05

HoppingPavlova · 28/05/2025 11:03

I’d not heard, up until now, of any fatalities in this role

Yep, I had a relative who was a shifter and they were squished dead between two trains.

Still, seems such an odd thread.

Sorry to hear this ❤️

OP posts:
AthWat · 28/05/2025 11:03

Bjorkdidit · 28/05/2025 10:59

If you want to work 'on the railways' but don't fancy being a shunter, you could look at signalling, train driver/guard or announcer, which I think is all recorded these days, but they still have someone pressing buttons, a relative does this.

Look at your local train companies and stations. If you get in, you'll have a better idea of who does what and could progress pr try different jobs.

Yeah, just go down the local railway station and say you'd like to try out a few different jobs before settling on one. You might have to wait until Monday to start now though.

HoppingPavlova · 28/05/2025 11:03

I’d not heard, up until now, of any fatalities in this role

Yep, I had a relative who was a shifter and they were squished dead between two trains.

Still, seems such an odd thread.

AthWat · 28/05/2025 11:02

WhiteRosesAndCandles · 28/05/2025 10:28

Who cares?

I am not better than anyone else, no-one is better than me.

I work in and office and am middle manager, OH is a graphic designer. If I were to define our family, we are working class.

You might be, as class is really determined by your background. Your children probably won't be.
A lot of people really don't understand that the lower middle class is huge, and has never been in any way posh (except to people below it). You don't have to privately educate your kids in order to be lower middle class.

Original poster
Correction · 28/05/2025 11:01

Bjorkdidit · 28/05/2025 10:59

If you want to work 'on the railways' but don't fancy being a shunter, you could look at signalling, train driver/guard or announcer, which I think is all recorded these days, but they still have someone pressing buttons, a relative does this.

Look at your local train companies and stations. If you get in, you'll have a better idea of who does what and could progress pr try different jobs.

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

OP posts:
Klozza · 28/05/2025 11:01

InvasiveSpecies · 28/05/2025 10:58

Maybe we should all go around asking our new boyfriends what their dead parents did for a living, and then go on the internet to check out the job for its class credentials? I mean, maybe we've all been doing dating all wrong.

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God you’re right, my boyfriends dads still alive, so shall I research the grandads job instead?

Bjorkdidit · 28/05/2025 10:59

If you want to work 'on the railways' but don't fancy being a shunter, you could look at signalling, train driver/guard or announcer, which I think is all recorded these days, but they still have someone pressing buttons, a relative does this.

Look at your local train companies and stations. If you get in, you'll have a better idea of who does what and could progress pr try different jobs.

InvasiveSpecies · 28/05/2025 10:58

Klozza · 28/05/2025 10:57

Yeah this is one of the oddest threads I’ve read in a while

Show quote history

Maybe we should all go around asking our new boyfriends what their dead parents did for a living, and then go on the internet to check out the job for its class credentials? I mean, maybe we've all been doing dating all wrong.

Klozza · 28/05/2025 10:57

WheresMyPlanetGone · 28/05/2025 08:32

It’s also quite bizarre to be looking up the pay scales for your boyfriend’s dead dad’s ex job in the first place.

Yeah this is one of the oddest threads I’ve read in a while

NeverDropYourMooncup · 28/05/2025 10:55

Elbowpatch · 28/05/2025 08:31

Here is an (old) picture of a shunter. Make your own mind up.

Seeing as that looks like it's from about 1910, you're about 60 years too early. However, it was (still is) a high risk, skilled job and the pay was good as a result.

Original poster
Correction · 28/05/2025 10:52

Applesonthelawn · 28/05/2025 10:51

Wow I've just seen your update. You yourself don't work and yet you are worried about the status of your potential boyfriend's long deceased dad's very respectable job? What about the status of your own economic inactivity?

Fair comment but I intend to work asap

OP posts:
Original poster
Correction · 28/05/2025 10:52

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 28/05/2025 10:46

I've just come over to say thank you for the nostalgia, OP! My lovely dad was a shunter for British Rail for almost all of his working life, and it's not a job I see mentioned very often. I've now got lovely memories of his diesel-smelling overall hanging in our hallway and his massive gloves in the pockets.

He was working class to his fingertips, if it matters, but my mum was born middle class in reduced circumstances between the wars. She was upwardly mobile and I'm now considered middle class, but I never cared about what my dad did, because I loved him.

aw I’m so glad I’ve brought these memories back for you ❤️❤️

OP posts:
Applesonthelawn · 28/05/2025 10:51

Wow I've just seen your update. You yourself don't work and yet you are worried about the status of your potential boyfriend's long deceased dad's very respectable job? What about the status of your own economic inactivity?

Applesonthelawn · 28/05/2025 10:49

Working class is an arbitrary term that means nothing.
It's also what his Dad did and has no relevance to what his son is like.
Nuts to even wonder about it.
I respect anyone who earns their money honestly and pays their way.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 28/05/2025 10:46

I've just come over to say thank you for the nostalgia, OP! My lovely dad was a shunter for British Rail for almost all of his working life, and it's not a job I see mentioned very often. I've now got lovely memories of his diesel-smelling overall hanging in our hallway and his massive gloves in the pockets.

He was working class to his fingertips, if it matters, but my mum was born middle class in reduced circumstances between the wars. She was upwardly mobile and I'm now considered middle class, but I never cared about what my dad did, because I loved him.

User7171 · 28/05/2025 10:42

Conflating "class" with income is very American, OP.

Original poster
Correction · 28/05/2025 10:39

Bbq1 · 28/05/2025 10:30

@Correction
What's your job?
What's bf's job?

Edited

I don’t work
bf works in a night club

OP posts: