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?

Most arnt
Despite what you read on mumsnet.

I’m really really sorry to hear about this ❤️

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

I would agree. It's only on here that I actually hear this in anything other than past tense.
Edited to say I agree it's outdated and ridiculous

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?

Thank you -, this is very useful info

im pretty sure DP’s dad never made it to train driving

It is much less dangerous now than it used to be. But being crushed between the buffers and the wagon was undoubtedly an appalling way to die.

Yes

Yes completely agree ❤️

The question of what job a parent did and the class affiliation of that job (if any) arises from time to time in the questionnaires and surveys my university sends round. They have a fair number of first gen students enrolled, so it's not surprising.

My Dad did a lot of things, one of which was working as a warehouse clerk. It was poorly paid with little scope for progression, but it was indoors, reasonably clean, with a workspace and desk. It was regarded as unskilled, but relied on Dad's good basic skills. He left school in the 1950s, when the vast majority of people reached that milestone able to read reasonably well, but a few struggled with writing and number work. Dad (as far as I remember) didn't have problems with any of that, (his handwriting and maths were far better than mine) but because the job didn't require skills beyond schooling up to the age of 14, it was unskilled.

Yes, it was a dangerous job, hence the comparatively good pay!

Does it matter? In terms of logistics I can understand someone thinking about whether the other person can pay their way. The job they do surely is irrelevant. Being intellectually compatible is important

Working class means low paid or (perhaps ironically) unemployed. If someone has a job at or above the national average salary then they're no longer working class. You can't be wealthy and working class, you can't be comfortable and working class. Being working class means struggling to get by. Not "struggling to pay for a holiday" or private school or a new iPhone every five years, but struggling to pay your rent, energy bills and putting food on the table.

Obviously in the OP's case foodbanks weren't really a thing back then, but these days if you're not reliant on foodbanks, you're not working class. If you don't have a prepay energy meter, you're not working class.

I was born 1972 my mum born 1931

OP BORN 1972
OPs mum 1931
OPs gran 1890
OPs great gran with 5 children after 40 1850!!!

natural live births after 40 are fairly rare but 5 of them including twins is just amazing. With no robust postnatal care. Your great grandmother must have been extraordinary.

I'd say it's a less skilled job than a train driver, but is still able to drive a train enough to do essential, local tasks.

Rail jobs aren't paid as well as they used to be sadly. A friend has just given up a white collar job with the rail services. Used to work for BR but salary has stagnated since the change.

When the OP’s partner’s father was employed, a shunter essentially coupled wagons and coaches together using a hook on the end of a stick.

Not quite the same thing as being a pilot.

I'm surprised to see that you're 53 - you sounded very young and naive with your questioning if it's a working job and then being surprised it is as it's relatively well paid.

Your logic makes no sense. Lots of working class jobs are/were very well paid. Plasterer springs to mind - incredibly well remunerated. As are plumbers and bookies and premier league footballers.

My BIL left school at 16 with no qualifications and became a scaffolder, possibly the most working class job ever. Through hard work he gradually built up his own firm and is now rich enough to own his own helicopter. He also has properties in 4 countries and owns a stud farm. His life style has changed but he is still a scaffolder and working class to the core.

What does your boyfriend do for a living OP? Surely more relevant than his dead father’s profession?

Being interested in what the job entails is one thing but needing to know the ‘class’ of a job is just weird.

Why is that bit important? 🤷🏼‍♀️

Just curiosity really

Why does it matter if the job is a working class job?

And how do you think they moved them?

Works in a nightclub

are you unreasonable for asking? Why do you care?

or do you want to know if it is?

OP bear in mind your age, most employers for rail shunting would probably favour younger candidates as there are very stringent tests and the cost of training is very expensive. The people they recruit must be a potential long term employee. I don't think there is an upper limit age but worth bearing in mind.
Our health changes as we get older in various ways. People in their 50's won't have the same amount of energy they had when they were in their 20 /30's.