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?

My grandma had children over a 20 year plus period. Lots of people had children from their 20s to early 40s with very big families.

wouldn’t care If he was doing it about mine

This reminds me of The Wheel Tappers and Shunters Social Club which was regularly on TV in the 70s - definitely working class .

What a vile thread you’ve started. Dump him, he deserves better.

My mum is 1 of 8 surving children, and my grandfather wasn't even in the war because he was exempt, so the babies just kept on coming!

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.

How will knowing how much your boyfriend’s dad earned help you to break this cycle though?

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.

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.

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.

I’m born 72 partner born 70

What a weird thing to do.

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

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?

No I agree

sorry I didn’t mean that by any means

I was born in 1972 to parents born in 1931

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.

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.

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 .

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?

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.

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

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

Yes a working class job but a well paid one!

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