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

[Correction]

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?

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

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.

You sound like such a snob.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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!

@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.

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.

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.

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.

Why ? People are always saying 50s is ‘never too late’ in threads on here all the time

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.

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

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.

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

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,

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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