I’ve been working on the

railroad and elsewhere….

Selected sources in the NSW State archives

Session outline

Online resources including indexes

www.records.nsw.gov.au

Selected sources

19th century and 20th century records relating to railway

employees

Photographs

Tramway employees

Maritime- Watermen

Did your ancestor work on the Railways?

Marriage and/or death certificates may indicate that a person

worked for the railways.

Tip: Marriage certificates often give the occupation of the bride

and groom

There may be family papers or photographs.

There may be family stories.

Tip: Never assume…until you have checked the records!

Online indexes – Railway records

State Records has a number of searchable indexes which may

assist in locating information about railway employees:

Nominal Roll of the First Railway Section (AIF), 1917-20

Railway Supply Detachment, 1914

Railway Employment Records 1856-1890, 1909-32

Government Railways and Tramways Roll of Honour, 1914-19

Tip 1: State Records holds many more records relating to

Railway employees in its collection.

Tip 2: Most of these records have not been copied and can

only be accessed in our reading room at Western Sydney.

Nominal Roll of the First Railway Section (AIF)

NRS 15905, Reel 3050, page 7

Key 19th century sources

Government Gazette and Parliamentary Papers (Copies in

both reading rooms)

Register of Salaried Officers, 1856-90 [R297] (See online index

to Railway Employment Records)

Register of Electrical Engineers Employees [Branch] - extra

staff, 1891-1908, NRS 12921

Extracted from Government Gazette and Parliamentary Papers

Extracted from Government

Gazette and Parliamentary

Papers

Tip: Women were frequently

employed as gatekeepers

Register of Salaried

Officers, 1856-90 [R297]

Register of Electrical Engineers Employees - extra staff, 1891-1908, NRS 12921 1 of 2

Register of Electrical Engineers Employees - extra staff, 1891-1908, NRS 12921 2 of 2

Key 20th century sources

Personal History Cards

Employees born before 1900 (NRS 12922)

Employees born between 1900 and 1962 (NRS 19333)

Country and metropolitan employees 1928-86 (NRS 19375)

Tip 1: Check the website under Railway Employee records for more series

Tip 2: These records are covered by Access Direction AD 1184. Under

this direction the records are closed for 30 years from date of separation

Ambulance Corps Roll, 1886–1923 (R306)

Personnel Register – Darling Harbour, 1909–32 (NRS 15895)-

online index

Register of Deaths… Superannuation Board, 1910-85 [R351]

Retirement entitlements, payments and pension records, Railway

Services Superannuation Board, 1910-90 [R352]

Allen Walter Wilson NRS 19333/1/456

Employees born between 1900 and 1962

Leonard Mervyn Little NRS 19375/1/21

Country and metropolitan employees 1928-86

These records are covered by

Access Direction AD 1184.

Under this direction the

records are closed for 30

years from date of separation

District Superintendent; Lithgow, Personal History Cards, c1915–89 NRS 17419

Trading and Catering Service, Personnel History Cards, c.1920-90 [R320]

Trading and Catering Service, Personnel History Cards, c.1920-90 [R320]

Ambulance Corps Roll, 1886–1923 (R306)

Personnel Register –

Darling Harbour, 1909–32

(NRS 15895)

Register of Deaths… Superannuation Board, 1910-85 [R351]

Retirement entitlements, payments and pension records, Railway Services Superannuation Board, 1910-90 [R352]

Australian Railway Historical Society

• Index to Appointments and removals of employees listed in the

Railway Annual Reports 1888-1930

• Index to Chief Mechanical Engineer's staff circulars,NRS 15292

Photographs

State Rail Authority Archives Photographic Reference Print

Collection (NRS 17420) consists of reference prints and

negatives drawn from a variety of sources, primarily sources

within State Rail and it’s predecessor organisations.

Many of the photographs have been copied and can be

accessed via Photo Investigator

C3806 locomotive at the Eveleigh workshops preparing for a trial run, 1945

Apprentices being trained at the Carriage Works at the Eveleigh Workshops, 1942

Coffs Harbour Railway Refreshment Room – staff, 1947

Other records

• Short Guide No 10 Occupations and Professions

• http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/state-archives/guides-and-finding-

aids/short-guide-10/short-guide-10

• Arranged alphabetically by occupation/professional

Tramway employees

• Tip also check the Railway Personal History Cards

NRS 12919,

[7/8107]

Watermen

• NRS 9822, MSB Special Bundles;

-Licenced watermen on Sydney Harbour, 1902-08,[7/7500.2]

- Applications for watermen's licenses and licenses for lighters (vessels)

subject to seaworthiness, 1921-23, [ 8/2036.15]

• NRS 10824, Watermen’s Licences, Apr 1911-Feb 1935,[X2332]

• NRS 9847,Watermen’s Licences, Sep 1936-Sep 1953,[X2333]

• Port of Newcastle

• NRS 10925, Watermen’s Licences, 1912-24,[X2334-35]

NRS 10824,

[X2332]

NRS 9822,

[7/7500.2]

NRS 9822,

[7/7500.2]