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?

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.

@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!!

Totally agree with this first paragraph

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.

Ah my school mate got this also

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

I never said it determined his suitability

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.

My son, ex-mlitary, has just applied for a Shunter job with an allied partner to the rail network. There is a stringent recruitment process with multiple tests. and a talent pool. It's a safety critical job and fairly well paid. Class doesn't come into it.

Why does it matter?

Thank you . This is very useful advice and I hope your son is successful 🙌

You’re way oversimplifying. Theatre directors are as middle class as it gets and get paid almost nothing. Plumbers are working class and make a mint.

A shunter role is a route into becoming a train driver OP and is very competitive to get into. The hours are pretty awful too.

The regional rail companies as you term them will remain for the foreseeable future so if you want to explore this as a career bear this in mind.

Just so you're prepared, my local rail operator had 5000 applications for 5 shunter roles!

@Correction I’m not saying you’re too old but shunting is a fairly physical job. Walking up and down on ballast all day is exhausting and hell on your knees, feet and back.

Nowadays it can be a good way to get into a company and then move into train driving. I’d recommend train driving to anyone, starting salary around £60k a year, only 4 days a week and can range up to £100k a year depending on who you drive for and where.

The railway isn’t nationalised as it was in BR days, the rail freight sector is very much still private and no signs of be changing any time soon.

Good golly, I’m clutching my pearls, gasping and trying desperately not to faint. Did you say A Shunter! Oh dear, how will you cope? What will you do if gasp he’s on minimum wage? 🙄 🙄

If the purpose of the question isn’t to determine his suitability, then what is it?

This is one of the oddest questions I've seen here. You're trying to work out if a new boyfriend's deceased parents were working class? How could that be relevant?

More like he inherited a nice terraced house a decade ago that's now worth £4billion and she's trying to work out how.

If you look up thread I’ve toyed with the idea of applying for a shunter job myself !

A relative of mine a was a shunter. Until he got crushed.

Well obviously you do or you wouldn’t be posting

You must be aware that’s incredibly unusual though? Did she survive 5 pregnancies in 7 years in the eighteen hundreds?

This is very useful info thank you

don’t think my partners dad ever became a driver tho

Yes she survived - but last babies were twins tbh so technically 4 pregnancies

this was early 1900s

Why on earth is anyone still assigning a 'class' to people...