Page 8 | Is ‘shunter for British Rail’ a working class job?

Correction · 2025-05-28T07:15:25+00:00

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?

IpsyUpsyDaisyDoos · 28/05/2025 09:15

Correction · 28/05/2025 09:09

No not at all!! If anything it would be showing that I value the job and implying his dad had good judgement in choosing the profession

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My DH ended up in a similar job to my dad, I don't think anything if it. It was a natural progression from what he was working as when we met.

Having said that, he didn't ask me what my dad did then apply for the same role. If he had, I'd have thought that was a bit weird if I'm honest. Like he was deliberately trying to emulate a parent.

Original poster

Correction · 28/05/2025 09:15

Elektra1 · 28/05/2025 09:12

As a middle aged woman myself, the idea of determining a partner’s suitability based on what their (presumably now dead) parents did sounds absurd. To the extent that your concern derives from trying to escape your own poor childhood (as you’ve said above), it is not your partner’s job or background that achieves that, it’s your own job and what you’ve done to improve your own life.

I never said it determined his suitability

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Wishingplenty · 28/05/2025 09:14

Does he speak common? That is more of an indicator of class than anything else!

Original poster

Correction · 28/05/2025 09:14

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 28/05/2025 09:10

@Correction also remember that br employees got, I think, 5 free passes and reduced cost on other trains on rail travel for their whole family!! we even went to spain on the train virtually free!! travelled down to cornwall from scotland for summer holidays every year free. nobody I knew could afford that kind of travel. this was early1960's we started travelling!!

Edited

Ah my school mate got this also

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Elektra1 · 28/05/2025 09:12

As a middle aged woman myself, the idea of determining a partner’s suitability based on what their (presumably now dead) parents did sounds absurd. To the extent that your concern derives from trying to escape your own poor childhood (as you’ve said above), it is not your partner’s job or background that achieves that, it’s your own job and what you’ve done to improve your own life.

Original poster

Correction · 28/05/2025 09:12

TheDisillusionedAnarchist · 28/05/2025 09:06

The demise of plentiful well paid working class jobs (ie jobs you can enter without much education and work up) is responsible for may of the issues in society IMO.

It’s alienated increasing numbers of people by restricting their access to society, to housing, to leisure activities, to wealth. While many of those jobs were to some degree subsidised by the government, the same families are still subsidised by the government but by top up benefits on their low wages. I don’t think that’s better and their demise has also pushed down wages overall so now middle class jobs suffer from similar wage deflation, soon we’ll have a wealth class and everyone else.

Totally agree with this first paragraph

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allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 28/05/2025 09:10

@Correction also remember that br employees got, I think, 5 free passes and reduced cost on other trains on rail travel for their whole family!! we even went to spain on the train virtually free!! travelled down to cornwall from scotland for summer holidays every year free. nobody I knew could afford that kind of travel. this was early1960's we started travelling!!

Floatlikeafeather2 · 28/05/2025 09:09

Correction · 28/05/2025 08:44

Yeah I suppose

i had a shit upbringing and I’m desperate trying to overcome it and not be like my parents

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Aah. So you're wondering if you've got yourself a good catch. Or not. You're a contemporary of his. I'm sure you can work it out for yourself because you've lived through the same times as him. Some of your posts are pretty clueless for a 53 year old. You want to be a shunter but only with BR? Really? The job is the same, whoever owns the railway. And I'm pretty sure, in 197q it wouldn't have been particularly well paid, in spite of the huge responsibilities it carries.

Original poster

Correction · 28/05/2025 09:09

accentdusoleil · 28/05/2025 09:07

Are you considering becoming one ? I think that works creep your partner out

No not at all!! If anything it would be showing that I value the job and implying his dad had good judgement in choosing the profession

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GAJLY · 28/05/2025 09:08

Yes a working class job but a well paid one!

accentdusoleil · 28/05/2025 09:07

Are you considering becoming one ? I think that works creep your partner out

Original poster

Correction · 28/05/2025 09:06

PandorasJam · 28/05/2025 08:59

Or you could try being a coal miner as it's also working class and well paid.

You can get a leaflet from your nearest coal mine.

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Ok I’ll pop down today

however- a railway shunter appeals to me more than a coal miner tbh! So many fatalities historically in coal mines - can’t say this appeals if I’m being honest

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TheDisillusionedAnarchist · 28/05/2025 09:06

The demise of plentiful well paid working class jobs (ie jobs you can enter without much education and work up) is responsible for may of the issues in society IMO.

It’s alienated increasing numbers of people by restricting their access to society, to housing, to leisure activities, to wealth. While many of those jobs were to some degree subsidised by the government, the same families are still subsidised by the government but by top up benefits on their low wages. I don’t think that’s better and their demise has also pushed down wages overall so now middle class jobs suffer from similar wage deflation, soon we’ll have a wealth class and everyone else.

Abhannmor · 28/05/2025 09:06

Yes. My dad , also born 1928 was a shunter at the time of my birth. Quite a dangerous job too. But I'm not sure it exists now?

Missmarplesknittingbuddy · 28/05/2025 09:06

Correction · 28/05/2025 08:53

wouldn’t care If he was doing it about mine

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I could understand if you were interested in his parents lives , and didn't know what the job entailed, but you are interested in the " class " of the job, which is entirely different .

Whippetlovely · 28/05/2025 09:05

My dad was a shunter, yes it's working class. He worked bloody hard, shift work too. I remember they had some great family Christmas partys and very occasionally he'd take me to work and I'd sit in the office. He got made redundant after many years and was given a free rail /iow ferry pass for life. Bloody handy dad and mum are always going on day trips on the train over the island ect. I don't know if it's that common now they probably have machines that move the trains.

Allschoolsareartschools · 28/05/2025 09:03

You seem ridiculously uninformed about the future of the railways especially if you want to work in this area.
Your dp is mid 50s & probably looking at retirement before too long from this well paid & usually well pensioned job.
Most people are working class, it's fine to be interested but I'm not sure what you're looking for here. It has absolutely nothing to do with his upbringing, thinking about what his parents did at this age is bizarre.

Original poster

Correction · 28/05/2025 09:02

Elektra1 · 28/05/2025 09:01

I doubt his parents were both born in 1927 if he was born in 1970! And why does it matter whether his parents had “working class” jobs? Are you Nancy Mitford?

I was born in 1972 to parents born in 1931

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Original poster

Correction · 28/05/2025 09:02

YouWhatNowHuh · 28/05/2025 08:55

I don't think you can tell if he had a shit upbringing or not from what jobs his parents did. You can have a shit upbringing regardless of class.

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No I agree

sorry I didn’t mean that by any means

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Elektra1 · 28/05/2025 09:01

I doubt his parents were both born in 1927 if he was born in 1970! And why does it matter whether his parents had “working class” jobs? Are you Nancy Mitford?

Coffeeishot · 28/05/2025 09:01

You are 53 what "cycle" are you trying to break ?

cremebruleee · 28/05/2025 09:00

Correction · 28/05/2025 08:24

Just interested

looked online and shunters seem relatively well paid

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What a weird thing to do.

Original poster

Correction · 28/05/2025 08:59

EmeraldRoulette · 28/05/2025 08:59

Finding out people 's opinions on his father's work won't have any relevance here.

also wondering what age you are. No one is doomed to repeat parental mistakes.

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I’m born 72 partner born 70

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Floatlikeafeather2 · 28/05/2025 08:59

heavenisaplaceonearth · 28/05/2025 08:35

Then you’ll be aware that having children over 40 in the 1970s was fairly rare. I think you were considered ancient over 30!

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I had my first child in 1984. I was 27 and officially classified as "an elderly primagravida". My doctor was most amused but he had to do it.

PandorasJam · 28/05/2025 08:59

Correction · 28/05/2025 08:40

OK…….

I’m grateful to everyone who’s responded to me even if you’ve called me snobbish etc .. I wanted responses etc .. I got them.

To those who called me snobbish - I’m not currently working and have considered trying for this job myself actually

one slight problem though - I really want to work for British Rail not the regional companies that are around now 😭

Or you could try being a coal miner as it's also working class and well paid.

You can get a leaflet from your nearest coal mine.