Working on the Railways 100 years ago

     The following table gives details for the period shown of the hours actually worked and the wages paid to approx. 125 NSWGR employees attached to the Chief Mechanical Engineer. From details shown in the Time Book, they would appear to have been engaged in running maintenance of both passenger and goods vehicles at the locations shown.
     It is particularly interesting to note the number of hours overtime worked by many men, especially at the Gas Works. A number actually worked the equivalent of 15 or more 8-hour days in 14 consecutive days!

SYDNEY & DARLING HARBOUR
Employee Number in Time Book	Surname	First Name(s)	Occupation	Fortnight Ended	Normal Hours	Overtime & Sunday Hours	Daily Rate (12 day fortnight)	Wages including Overtime etc. £  s.  d.	Notes
77	Allen	Percy	Examiner	5-10-1905	96	25.5	7.06	5.13.11
71	Arahill	John	Examiner	5-10-1905	96		8.00	4.16.00
4	Baikie	Alexander	Car Builder	5-10-1905	96	6	10.06	7.07.07
43	Baker	Alfred	Car Builder	5-10-1905	96	2.5	10.00	6.03.01
24	Bates	Walter	Examiner	5-10-1905	96		8.00	4.16.00
68	Bennett	Albert	Laborer	5-10-1905	85		7.06	3.19.08	Took 5 days leave in lieu of Public Holidays worked
35	Best	William	Laborer	5-10-1905	96		7.00	4.04.00
63	Bingham	Charles	Examiner	5-10-1905	96	13.25	8.00	5.09.03
29	Bowles	Archibald	Examiner	5-10-1905	96		8.00	4.16.00
53	Brady	William	Examiner in Charge	5-10-1905	96		11.00	6.12.00
10	Burke	William	Wagon Builder	5-10-1905	89.25		10.00	5.09.01
23	Butler	Joseph	Examiner	5-10-1905	96		8.00	4.16.00
67	Caldwell	Hugh	Examiner	5-10-1905	96		7.06	4.10.00
22	Campbell	William	Examiner	5-10-1905	96		8.00	4.16.00
38	Carben	Charles	Examiner	5-10-1905	95.5		7.06	4.09.06
66	Croft	William	Examiner	5-10-1905	96		8.00	4.16.00
75	Denver	Edward	Examiner	5-10-1905	98		7.06	4.11.10
37	Donnan	Chris	Laborer	5-10-1905	96		7.00	4.04.00
36	Dwyer	Frederick	Office Assistant	5-10-1905	12 days		5.06	3.06.00
39	Gerrard	George	Examiner	5-10-1905	96	4	7.06	5.14.10
14	Hayes	John	Wagon Builder	5-10-1905	96		10.00	6.00.00
44	Hemming	Henry	Car Builder	5-10-1905	95.5		10.00	5.19.04
80	Hennessy	Robert	Lifter's Assistant	5-10-1905	96		7.06	4.10.00
42	Holland	Charles	Car Builder	5-10-1905	96		10.00	6.00.00
15	Jackson	Charles	Trimmer	5-10-1905	96		10.00	6.00.00
76	Kirwin	Thomas	Oiler	5-10-1905	95.75	12	7.00	4.14.03
70	Larkin	Thomas	Examiner	5-10-1905	94.5		7.06	4.08.07	Took one day leave in lieu of Public Holiday worked
54	Liels	William	Lifter	5-10-1905	96		8.09	5.05.00
2	Lockyer	Frederick	Gasfitter	5-10-1905	96		9.00	5.08.00
56	Lodge	Malcolm	Examiner	5-10-1905	96		8.00	4.16.00
72	Maher	Michael	Lifter	5-10-1905	96		8.06	5.02.00
73	Malarkey	Richard	Examiner	5-10-1905	96		7.06	4.10.00
7	Maloney	William	Car Builder	5-10-1905	96		10.00	6.00.00
21	Mathew	Henry	Examiner	5-10-1905	96	12	8.00	5.08.00
12	McAlpine	Alexander	Wagon Builder	5-10-1905	96		10.00	6.00.00
59	Messer	William	Examiner	5-10-1905	96	25	8.00	6.01.00
81	Morris	Arthur	Oiler	5-10-1905	96	12	7.00	4.14.06
32	Morris	John	Examiner	5-10-1905	95.75	35.5	8.00	6.11.03
57	Neil	Peter	Laborer	5-10-1905	96		7.00	4.04.00
46	Neptonstall	Isaac	Wagon Builder	5-10-1905	96		9.00	5.08.00
13	Olliffe	Gustave	Wagon Builder	5-10-1905	96		9.06	5.14.00
6	O'Mara	James	Car Builder	5-10-1905	96		10.00	6.00.00
47	Platt	Charles	Wagon Builder	5-10-1905	96		10.00	6.00.00
19	Pope	William	Examiner	5-10-1905	91.5		8.06	4.17.03
8	Porteus	Robert	Wagon Builder	5-10-1905	96		11.00	6.12.00
33	Robson	Thomas	Examiner	5-10-1905					Retired 14 Sept.
64	Ryan	Edward	Examiner	5-10-1905	96	12	8.00	5.08.00
25	Shaw	William	Examiner	5-10-1905	96.5		*8.00	4.16.06	*Transferred from Clyde 27 Sept. @ 9/- a day
45	Sherlock	Edward	Wagon Builder	5-10-1905	96		10.00	6.00.00
41	Smart	Frederick	Car Builder in Charge	5-10-1905	96		12.00	7.04.00	On Leave one month from 12 Sept
34	Smith	Stephen	Oiler	5-10-1905	96		7.06	4.10.00
69	Sprouster	Archibald	Laborer	5-10-1905	87.5		6.06	3.11.01
20	Stanton	Henry W.	Lifter	5-10-1905	96		8.08	5.04.00
18	Thomas	John	Examiner	5-10-1905	96		8.06	5.02.00
5	Tideswell	Morris	Car Builder	5-10-1905	89.5	3	10.00	5.15.07
79	Todd	Cecil	Examiner	5-10-1905	96		7.06	4.10.00
74	Walker	David	Shop Boy	5-10-1905	96		3.00	1.16.00
78	Walker	John	Laborer	5-10-1905	96	22.25	7.00	5.03.06
58	Ward	John	Examiner	5-10-1905	96		8.00	4.16.00
30	Watson	Robert	Examiner	5-10-1905	96	12	8.00	5.08.00
62	Webber	William	Examiner	5-10-1905	96	19	8.06	6.02.02
65	Wilcock	Cecil	Examiner	5-10-1905	96	7.25	8.00	5.03.03
1	Wright	Stephen	Gasfitter	5-10-1905	96	2	10.08	6.10.08
9	Zucker	Ernest	Wagon Builder	5-10-1905	90.25		10.00	5.12.10
EVELEIGH
Employee Number in Time Book	Surname	First Name(s)	Occupation	Fortnight Ended	Normal Hours	Overtime & Sunday Hours	Daily Rate (12 day fortnight)	Wages including Overtime etc. £  s.  d.	Notes
802	Bunting	Henry	Examiner	5-10-1905	96		8.00	4.16.00
801	Russell	Michael	Examiner	5-10-1905	96		7.06	4.10.00
HOMEBUSH
Employee Number in Time Book	Surname	First Name(s)	Occupation	Fortnight Ended	Normal Hours	Overtime & Sunday Hours	Daily Rate (12 day fortnight)	Wages including Overtime etc. £  s.  d.	Notes
	Austin	Edward	Examiner	5-10-1905	120	30.5	10.08	8.00.07
	Hyslop	John B.	Examiner	5-10-1905	120	12	11.00	7.05.02
	Richard	Josiah	Oiler	5-10-1905	96		7.00	4.04.00
	Taylor	James	Laborer	5-10-1905	120	17	8.00	5.09.07
WOLLONGONG
Employee Number in Time Book	Surname	First Name(s)	Occupation	Fortnight Ended	Normal Hours	Overtime & Sunday Hours	Daily Rate (12 day fortnight)	Wages including Overtime etc. £  s.  d.	Notes
	Smith	George	Examiner	5-10-1905	108		9.00	5.08.00
HORNSBY
Employee Number in Time Book	Surname	First Name(s)	Occupation	Fortnight Ended	Normal Hours	Overtime & Sunday Hours	Daily Rate (12 day fortnight)	Wages including Overtime etc. £  s.  d.	Notes
	Meller	William	Examiner	5-10-1905	120		11.08	7.00.00
CLYDE
Employee Number in Time Book	Surname	First Name(s)	Occupation	Fortnight Ended	Normal Hours	Overtime & Sunday Hours	Daily Rate (12 day fortnight)	Wages including Overtime etc. £  s.  d.	Notes
	Davidson	James	Examiner	5-10-1905	80		8.00	4.00.00
	Geeson	Thomas	Examiner	5-10-1905	108	2.5	9.00	5.10.06	Took 4 days leave in lieu of Public Holidays worked
	Olsen	Hans	Examiner	5-10-1905	108		8.06	4.18.06	Took 7 days leave (8/- per day) in lieu of Public Holidays worked
	Shaw	William	Examiner	5-10-1905					Transferred to Sydney Staff
	Woolmer	George	Examiner	5-10-1905	108	16	9.00	6.04.00
GAS WORKS
Employee Number in Time Book	Surname	First Name(s)	Occupation	Fortnight Ended	Normal Hours	Overtime & Sunday Hours	Daily Rate (12 day fortnight)	Wages including Overtime etc. £  s.  d.	Notes
129	Barrett	Richard	Assistant Gasfitter	5-10-1905	96	5.75	8.00	5.01.09
123	Britten	Stanley	Gasfitter	5-10-1905	96	8.25	8.00	5.04.03
139	Brown	Edgar	Apprentice	5-10-1905	88.25	12.25	3.00	1.16.06	8.75 hours @ 2/- per day
103	Clausen	Christian	Stationary Engine Fireman	5-10-1905	104	8	8.00	5.04.00
94	Clayton	Robert	Gas Cylinder Filler	5-10-1905	112	16	8.06	5.19.00
83	Clingan	William	Gasmaker	5-10-1905	112		9.06	6.13.00
114	Cordy	John	Gasfitter	5-10-1905	96	0.5	10.00	6.00.07
112	Cotterell	John	Gasfitter	5-10-1905	96		10.00	6.00.00
100	Cruwys	Arthur	Car Lighter	5-10-1905	112	16	8.06	5.19.00
96	Cruwys	John W	Gas Cylinder Filler	5-10-1905	94	14	8.06	5.14.09
101	Cruwys	Ralph	Car Lighter	5-10-1905	112	16	8.06	5.19.00
124	Devitt	John	Gasfitter	5-10-1905	96	8	10.00	6.10.00
85	Eggelton	Mark	Gasmaker	5-10-1905	96		9.06	5.14.00	On leave from 14 Sept
122	Emmott	Frederick	Gasfitter	5-10-1905	96.75	4.75	9.00	5.14.02
115	Evans	David	Gasfitter	5-10-1905	96	6.25	10.00	6.07.10
91	Fairweather	William	Brassfinisher	5-10-1905	96	25.25	10.00	7.11.06
	Flanagan	Francis	Casual Laborer	5-10-1905	87.5		6.06	3.11.01
98	Forward	James	Gas Cylinder Filler	5-10-1905	97	8	8.06	5.11.07
116	Gant	Thomas	Gasfitter	5-10-1905	96	12.75	10.00	6.15.11
140	Gibbons	Albert	Apprentice	5-10-1905	96	3.5	2.00	1.04.10
119	Gilmoure	John	Gasfitter	5-10-1905	96	4.75	9.06	5.19.08
97	Hammond	Arthur	Gas Cylinder Filler	5-10-1905	91.25	14	8.06	5.11.09
86	Harris	Ernest	Gasmaker	5-10-1905	112		9.06	6.13.00
84	Harvey	Thomas	Gasmaker	5-10-1905	112		9.00	6.06.00
110	Hayllar	Thomas	Gasfitter	5-10-1905	96	5	10.00	6.06.03
87	Hollow	John	Gasmaker	5-10-1905	112		9.06	6.13.00
117	Kirby	James	Gasfitter	5-10-1905	96	8.75	10.00	6.10.11
92	Knight	William	Smith	5-10-1905	94.5	22	8.06	6.03.09
132	Lincoln	William	Junior Laborer	5-10-1905	96.25	8.5	6.00	3.18.07
111	Lovering	John	Gasfitter	5-10-1905	96		10.00	6.00.00
109	Lynch	Thomas	Gasfitter	5-10-1905	96		10.08	6.08.00
107	McRitichie	William	Chargeman	5-10-1905	96	22.5	10.00	7.08.01
128	Middleton	Charles	Office Assistant	5-10-1905	96		8.00	4.16.00
121	Negus	Henry	Gasfitter	5-10-1905	96		10.00	6.00.00
90	Ould	Samuel	Turner	5-10-1905	96		11.00	6.12.00	On leave from 15 Sept.
137	Randall	William	Laborer	5-10-1905	96	24	7.06	5.12.06
120	Rhodes	Charles	Gasfitter	5-10-1905	96	3.5	10.00	6.04.04
138	Ryan	William	Laborer	5-10-1905	96	17	7.00	4.04.00
118	Sams	William	Gasfitter	5-10-1905	94.5	15	10.00	6.16.10
89	Scott	Patrick	Gasmaker	5-10-1905	104	1.25	7.06	4.18.08
95	Skivington	Thomas	Gas Cylinder Filler	5-10-1905	98.5	15	8.06	6.00.07
113	Triglone	John	Gasfitter	5-10-1905	96	8	10.00	6.15.00
82	Tuting	William	Foreman	5-10-1905	2 weeks		4.00.00pw	8.00.00	Took 10 days leave in lieu of Public Holidays worked
133	Weston	Arthur	Junior Laborer	5-10-1905	96.5	10.25	6.00	4.00.01
106	White	James	Fitter	5-10-1905	96	16	10.08	7.09.04
88	Yule	John	Gasmaker	5-10-1905	112		9.00	6.06.00

Design and Concept - © Geoff Lillico the_commissioner@iprimus.com.au