I’ve signed up to a course to learn more about the lives of railway workers.
The four-week course is run by Future Learn and promises that I’ll “discover Britain’s industrial heritage and learn about the lives of British railway workers from 1840 to 1914”.
There are two reasons for taking part:
- It’s a good way to get back into learning as I consider part-time or even full-time courses
- I might learn something that will be useful in my role as a volunteer at the Bluebell Railway
Week One focuses on engine drivers.
The course is broken down into a series of modules including articles, videos, discussions and quizzes.
I feel as though I have picked up some knowledge of railways through being a regular visitor, working member and now board director at a heritage railway.
Many people I’ve met know far more about many other aspects of the railways and knowledge is (locomotive) power.
I’m all too aware that the railways employed large numbers of people and they changed the landscape of Britain in the 19th century.
Here are some of the things I learned in the first week of the course:
- Author HG Wells argued in 1900 that the railway locomotive running on the track was the defining image of the 19th century
- There were once jobs on the railways called hatch boys
- Driving steam locomotives was a very dangerous job in the early days and some drivers paid with their lives to save their passengers
- The University of Portsmouth, working with others, has collated information on railway accidents
Even after one week I’m so glad I signed up to this course.
I’m sure I’ll learn more each week which will be of use. It’s learning with a practical purpose rather than purely for academic reasons.
I can’t wait for week two when the subject is signalling.