Train, from Illustrated London News
Transport
Workers on Trains in Brecon
Many people were engaged in the practical, mechanical running of the railways.
By far the most frequently listed railway occupation in the 1891 census was that of engine driver. One street containing a particularly rich seam of engine drivers was Charles Street, Brecon. Some came to live in the town from quite a distance - an example of how railways had affected the local population.
| 1891 Census | ||||||
| 18 Charles Street | ||||||
| Name | Position in household |
Marital status |
Age | Occupation | Place of Birth | English/Welsh speaker |
| George Tinworth | Head | M | 37 | Railway Engine Driver |
Essex Audley End | English |
| Elizabeth Tinworth | Wife | M | 38 | Brecon St Mary's | English | |
| James Tinworth | Son | 10 | Brecon St Mary's | English | ||
| 20 Charles Street | ||||||
| William Owen | Head | M | 52 | Railway Engine Driver |
Montgomeryshire Llanidloes |
English |
| Margaret Owen | Wife | M | 52 | Montgomeryshire Llanidloes |
English | |
| Margaret Owen | Dau | S | 19 | Scholar | Montgomeryshire Llanidloes |
English |
| 21 Charles Street | ||||||
| Michael Caufron | Head | M | 52 | Railway Engine Driver |
Ireland | English |
| Mary Caufron | Wife | M | 51 | Gloucestershire | English | |
| Richard Maund | Nephew | S | 17 | Railway Clearing House Clerk |
Breconshire Brecon | English |
| Helena Gaufron | Niece | 4 | Breconshire Brecon | English | ||
| 22 Charles Street | ||||||
| Mary Sheams | Head | Wid | 45 | Laundress | Both | |
| Margaret Sheams | Dau | S | 19 | Dressmaker | Chatham | English |
| Annie Sheams | Dau | 13 | Scholar | Gibraltar | English | |
| George Childs | Lodger | S | 34 | Engine Driver | Gloucestershire Rock Hampton |
English |
One particular engine driver in 1891, Joseph Bregazzi, had a father involved in another aspect of the transport industry in the town, a coach builder.
| 1891 Census | ||||||
| 12 St Michael Street, Brecon | ||||||
| Name | Position in household |
Marital status |
Age | Occupation | Place of Birth | English/Welsh speaker |
| Joseph Bregazzi | Head | M | 41 | Railway Engine Driver | Derbyshire Derby | English |
| Frances Bregazzi | Wife | M | 41 | Derbyshire Derby | English | |
Assisting the engine drivers on the trains were the stokers, or firemen, whose main responsibility was to feed coal into the locomotive's furnace and keep it at the correct temperature.
| 1891 Census | ||||||
| 59 New March Street, Brecon | ||||||
| Name | Position in household |
Marital status |
Age | Occupation | Place of Birth | English/Welsh speaker |
| William Jones | Head | M | 35 | Railway fireman | Brecon | English |
| Harriet Jones | Wife | M | 31 | Herefordshire Penrhos | English | |
| Alfred Jones | Son | M | 8 | Scholar | Brecon St Davids | English |
| Edith A Jones | Dau | 7 | Scholar | Brecon St Davids | English | |
| William D Jones | Son | 5 | Scholar | Brecon St Mary | English | |
| Cyril G Jones | Son | 2 | Brecon St Davids | English | ||
| Emily E Jones | Dau | 2 mon | Brecon St Davids | English | ||
And also travelling on the train was the guard, such as Richard Probert:
| 1891 Census | ||||||
| 23 Orchard Street | ||||||
| Name | Position in house- hold |
Marital status |
Age | Occupation | Place of Birth | English/ Welsh speaker |
| Richard Probert | Head | M | 35 | Railway guard | Monmouthshire Abergavenny | English |
| Hannah Probert | Wife | M | 37 | Herefordshire Cusop | English | |
| Richard J Probert | Son | 11 | Scholar | Breconshire Brecon | English | |
| Catherine H Probert | Dau | 11 | Scholar | Breconshire Brecon | English | |
| Samuel Probert | Son | 7 | Scholar | Breconshire Brecon | English | |
| Elizabeth M Probert | Dau | 4 | Scholar | Breconshire Brecon | English | |