NINETEEN SIXTY FOUR – PART 86
George Grant
Michael L. Roach
I bought my first examples of the Great Western Railway Magazine in the early 1960s and the number stayed the same until a couple of years ago when I started adding to my collection by purchasing further examples on Ebay. Initially the purchases were mostly odd examples to fill gaps in my collection but later complete runs of 12 months many of which were bound volumes. The magazines chart the complete history of the GWR from the very first meeting in Bristol to nationalisation on 1 January 1948. I tend to look on Ebay most days to see what is new. Up until December 2023 the oldest examples in my collection was a bound volume for 1906 bought in June 2023 for £26 including postage.
On Thursday 28 December 2023 a new listing on Ebay intrigued me. It said GWR Magazine 1892 – 1904. The only scan showed the title page for Volume 4 Number 10 which was August 1892 just three months after the broad gauge was abolished. The price was £10 including postage and I would happily have paid that for just one edition of the magazine of that age. I bought it within five minutes of first seeing it and was delighted when it arrived on Tuesday 2 January 2024. It had travelled all the way from Grantown-on-Spey over the weekend. It was far better than I could have hoped for at the price being a bound volume but completely different to any other in my collection. There was no title page or list of contents; but in fact there were a total of 11 editions of the magazine. Second was December 1903 followed by Jan 1904 which had an article about the opening of the first part of the Truro and Newquay Railway; then April, May, July, August, September, October, November and December 1904. What a strange and eclectric mix of dates. There was a hand-written name and address inside the front cover. The address was “Tregenna” Southern Road, West Southbourne which told me the owner lived in Bournemouth. When I saw Tregenna I naturally thought that there might be a Cornish connection.
My first action on receiving new editions of the GWR Mag is to add to my index of articles and snippets which interest me. When I came to December 1903 there was a complete page on Mr. G. Grant “who recently took up the duties of Divisional Superintendent at Plymouth.” He had previously held a similar position as Divisional Superintendent at Chester. But moving to Plymouth was a promotion and an extra £50 per annum. I then looked back to August 1892 to find that there among the staff changes was a story that had not registered earlier recording that Mr. George Grant had been promoted from Goods Manager of the Shrewsbury District to Divisional Superintendent at Chester. The name written inside the cover of the book was G.Grant. Now the GWR was always good at recording what happened to their staff right from the very earliest days:- every movement from station/yard/shed to the next location; every misdemeanour; every notable action where a life was saved or collision avoided. It was all written down in the big book and luckily for us these books have survived and been digitised and George Grant was easily found in the records. It was the same George Grant that had this volume put together and bound as a personal record or anthology of his movements up to his transfer to Plymouth in September 1903. The magazines stop at December 1904 for two reasons. George Grant had probably decided he would be at Plymouth until retirement and from January 1905 the Magazine shrank in size and would not have bound in so easily. This bound volume really is a very unique document.
George Grant was born on 17 June 1848 at Ickford, Buckinghamshire (No, I did not know where Ickford was either) the son of a master tailor. The village of Ickford is in Aylesbury Vale roughly mid-way between Oxford and Aylesbury. The nearest railway station was 1½ miles to the south at Tiddington on the Oxford to Princes Risborough line. George joined the Great Western Railway in July 1864 shortly after his sixteenth birthday, but not at Tiddington. He started in Bristol in the office of the Divisional Superintendent.
George must have been bright and keen because he gained multiple promotions and very quickly, particularly in his first ten years with the GWR. In April 1868 he moved to Wells for his first position as Station Master. He was just 19 years and 10 months old. In my simple mind I never imagined that someone so young would ever have been offered such an important position in the Company. After all the Station Master was the Company's representative in the City of Wells; would have to meet and greet VIPs arriving at the station including visiting Bishops; attend civic functions etc. The list of positions George occupied are listed below; all dates being from the official record:
On Thursday 28 December 2023 a new listing on Ebay intrigued me. It said GWR Magazine 1892 – 1904. The only scan showed the title page for Volume 4 Number 10 which was August 1892 just three months after the broad gauge was abolished. The price was £10 including postage and I would happily have paid that for just one edition of the magazine of that age. I bought it within five minutes of first seeing it and was delighted when it arrived on Tuesday 2 January 2024. It had travelled all the way from Grantown-on-Spey over the weekend. It was far better than I could have hoped for at the price being a bound volume but completely different to any other in my collection. There was no title page or list of contents; but in fact there were a total of 11 editions of the magazine. Second was December 1903 followed by Jan 1904 which had an article about the opening of the first part of the Truro and Newquay Railway; then April, May, July, August, September, October, November and December 1904. What a strange and eclectric mix of dates. There was a hand-written name and address inside the front cover. The address was “Tregenna” Southern Road, West Southbourne which told me the owner lived in Bournemouth. When I saw Tregenna I naturally thought that there might be a Cornish connection.
My first action on receiving new editions of the GWR Mag is to add to my index of articles and snippets which interest me. When I came to December 1903 there was a complete page on Mr. G. Grant “who recently took up the duties of Divisional Superintendent at Plymouth.” He had previously held a similar position as Divisional Superintendent at Chester. But moving to Plymouth was a promotion and an extra £50 per annum. I then looked back to August 1892 to find that there among the staff changes was a story that had not registered earlier recording that Mr. George Grant had been promoted from Goods Manager of the Shrewsbury District to Divisional Superintendent at Chester. The name written inside the cover of the book was G.Grant. Now the GWR was always good at recording what happened to their staff right from the very earliest days:- every movement from station/yard/shed to the next location; every misdemeanour; every notable action where a life was saved or collision avoided. It was all written down in the big book and luckily for us these books have survived and been digitised and George Grant was easily found in the records. It was the same George Grant that had this volume put together and bound as a personal record or anthology of his movements up to his transfer to Plymouth in September 1903. The magazines stop at December 1904 for two reasons. George Grant had probably decided he would be at Plymouth until retirement and from January 1905 the Magazine shrank in size and would not have bound in so easily. This bound volume really is a very unique document.
George Grant was born on 17 June 1848 at Ickford, Buckinghamshire (No, I did not know where Ickford was either) the son of a master tailor. The village of Ickford is in Aylesbury Vale roughly mid-way between Oxford and Aylesbury. The nearest railway station was 1½ miles to the south at Tiddington on the Oxford to Princes Risborough line. George joined the Great Western Railway in July 1864 shortly after his sixteenth birthday, but not at Tiddington. He started in Bristol in the office of the Divisional Superintendent.
George must have been bright and keen because he gained multiple promotions and very quickly, particularly in his first ten years with the GWR. In April 1868 he moved to Wells for his first position as Station Master. He was just 19 years and 10 months old. In my simple mind I never imagined that someone so young would ever have been offered such an important position in the Company. After all the Station Master was the Company's representative in the City of Wells; would have to meet and greet VIPs arriving at the station including visiting Bishops; attend civic functions etc. The list of positions George occupied are listed below; all dates being from the official record:
Sometime after retiring George moved to Bournemouth where he died on 10 March 1930 at the age of 81 years George married Rebecca Marshall Sturge (1849-1928) and they had three children but one died very young. This story shows once again that the GWR were very good at promoting from within, especially those who were keen, enthusiastic and hard working. The only image attached is George's own story of his working life up to the time he left Chester for Plymouth which appeared in the GWR Magazine for December 1903.
George Grant's life story in his own words (click for an enlargement).
Many thanks for another great article Mike, very much appreciated as always.
For more of Michaels articles, please click here.
For more of Michaels articles, please click here.
37501 - in a past life
Roger Geach
I see there's much interest in 37501, once 37005, following its recent trip to the Westcountry. Here it is with 37502 on a Tidal to Tees Yard metals freight passing Newport on 10.09.1988.
I never found 37501 very common, as its spent a lot of time working off Thornaby and as 37005 it was again a North East loco.
When first converted from 37005 to 37501 it was a Canton loco from April 1986 to January 1987, then returning to Thornaby.
I wonder, did anyone ever see 37501 down in the West Country in BR days?
I never found 37501 very common, as its spent a lot of time working off Thornaby and as 37005 it was again a North East loco.
When first converted from 37005 to 37501 it was a Canton loco from April 1986 to January 1987, then returning to Thornaby.
I wonder, did anyone ever see 37501 down in the West Country in BR days?
37501 and 37502 with a Tidal - Tees Yard metal train passing Newport on Saturday 10.09.1988. Copyright Roger Geach.
Many thanks indeed Roger. Can anybody answer the question of whether 501 made it to the deep West, way back when? Answers and observations via email please, [email protected]
Memories of Aller Junction
Paul Barlow
159006 at Aller Junction with the 1035 Waterloo to Paignton. 27.10.1999, copyright Paul Barlow.
47814 Totnes Castle heads west at Aller Junction with the 0913 Liverpool to Plymouth 1V45. 27.10.1999, copyright Paul Barlow.
43128 plus a barrier vehicle - destination unknown! 27.10.1999, copyright Paul Barlow.
Many thanks Paul - a classic location, sorely missed by photographers since the demolition of the farm bridge.
2 railtours to Fowey in 1 day!
Details of an exciting new trip have today been added to our Railtour Calendar.
Saturday 19th September sees the Railway Touring Company visiting Fowey with their 'Cornish Branchliner' excursion from Crewe. This is the first time an enthusiast/daytripper-style railtour has visited Fowey for many years. The train is due to be hauled by WCRC Class 47's.
To add a further twist, Saturday 19th is also a date when we can expect Belmonds luxurious 'Britannic Explorer' to visit the county. This service uses Fowey as an overnight stop on a Saturday night.
Could this be the first time that 2 separate railtours have visited the Fowey branch on the same date?
View our Railtour Calendar for more info and for a link to the organisers website.
Saturday 19th September sees the Railway Touring Company visiting Fowey with their 'Cornish Branchliner' excursion from Crewe. This is the first time an enthusiast/daytripper-style railtour has visited Fowey for many years. The train is due to be hauled by WCRC Class 47's.
To add a further twist, Saturday 19th is also a date when we can expect Belmonds luxurious 'Britannic Explorer' to visit the county. This service uses Fowey as an overnight stop on a Saturday night.
Could this be the first time that 2 separate railtours have visited the Fowey branch on the same date?
View our Railtour Calendar for more info and for a link to the organisers website.
Single line section
Jon Hird
GWR's 150243 and 150234 pictured on the single line section between St. Pinnock and East Largin viaducts with the 1219 Plymouth - Penzance. 15.01.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
Just a few minutes later, 66182 appears from the opposite direction with the Treviscoe - Cliffe Vale China Clay. The rearmost wagon is just clear of East Largin viaduct. 15.01.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
Truro Engineers
Jonathan Harbage
66561 and 66547 heading to Penzance, going through Buckshead on route to St Erth on the 12/01/26. Copyright Jonathan Harbage.
66561 on the rear of the engineers train. 12.01.2026, copyright Jonathan Harbage.
Many thanks as always, Jonathan.
Holmbush Crossing
Julian Stephens
37501 and 37512 approach Holmbush foot crossing, St. Austell, with Wednesdays Long Rock - Derby working. 14.01.2026, copyright Julian Stephens.
37512 on the rear at Holmbush. 14.01.2026, copyright Julian Stephens.
Many thanks Julian, good choice of location.
Another serving of EE
Colin Pidgeon
37607 t&t DBSO 9714 on 3Q64 Canton Taff Vale Sidings to Canton Taff Vale Sidings via Kemble seen at Swindon on the Water. 15.01.2026, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
37607 t&t DBSO 9714 on 3Q64 Canton Taff Vale Sidings to Canton Taff Vale Sidings via Kemble seen at Swindon on the Water. 15.01.2026, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
Many thanks Colin - Class 37's certainly a common theme on the website this week!