Re: Tramway Culture
demondriver44
Saturday, June 15, 2002 10:06 AM
My tramway career was 1966 to 1977 and I never remember calling
anyone Mr.,all traffic officers up to and including the District
Inspector[if you knew him well enough]were known by their first name
which doesn't mean that they were given no respect,that depended on
how well they did their job.The "A" shift Depot starter at South
Melbourne/Hanna St.was Frank Reardon and he was universally respected
and well loved,he really looked after his crews and they looked after
him and the depot ran like clockwork with very little lost mileage on
our shift,most of our line inspectors were the same,maybe not quite
because Frank was one out of the box,all the same our roads ran
pretty well.The Depot Master was known as Boss to most trammies and
very occasionally Mr. to some suck or new employee unsure of
themselves,the old timers taught you not to give undue respect,they
were mostly good staunch people who really did their job and taught
you how to do yours.In a lot of ways it was a really good job,it was
an education for me and I think many like me.PBruce.P.S if you didn't
address someone,an officer, by their first name you spoke
impersonally but,as I say,not disrespectfully. --- In
TramsDownUnder@y..., "Swash" <swash@b...> wrote:
them well enough, otherwise one did not use their name. Even now
some still use Mr, but almost in a joking way. It occurs to me that
it is not such a bad thing in that it would be a good way to separate
when you are communicating in a serious way, ie with an officer at
fleet operations, or his first name when you see him at the depot and
stop to chat. After many years experience, it can be difficult to
stand your ground against management, who may have been 'on the job'
less years, and with whom you are quite good friends otherwise.
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anyone Mr.,all traffic officers up to and including the District
Inspector[if you knew him well enough]were known by their first name
which doesn't mean that they were given no respect,that depended on
how well they did their job.The "A" shift Depot starter at South
Melbourne/Hanna St.was Frank Reardon and he was universally respected
and well loved,he really looked after his crews and they looked after
him and the depot ran like clockwork with very little lost mileage on
our shift,most of our line inspectors were the same,maybe not quite
because Frank was one out of the box,all the same our roads ran
pretty well.The Depot Master was known as Boss to most trammies and
very occasionally Mr. to some suck or new employee unsure of
themselves,the old timers taught you not to give undue respect,they
were mostly good staunch people who really did their job and taught
you how to do yours.In a lot of ways it was a really good job,it was
an education for me and I think many like me.PBruce.P.S if you didn't
address someone,an officer, by their first name you spoke
impersonally but,as I say,not disrespectfully. --- In
TramsDownUnder@y..., "Swash" <swash@b...> wrote:
In 1979 DI's were still referred to as Mr by most staff. Otherofficers were usually referred to by their first name, once one knew
them well enough, otherwise one did not use their name. Even now
some still use Mr, but almost in a joking way. It occurs to me that
it is not such a bad thing in that it would be a good way to separate
when you are communicating in a serious way, ie with an officer at
fleet operations, or his first name when you see him at the depot and
stop to chat. After many years experience, it can be difficult to
stand your ground against management, who may have been 'on the job'
less years, and with whom you are quite good friends otherwise.
even
AC.
----- Original Message -----
From: pn1.rm
To: TramsDownUnder@y...
Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2002 5:36 PM
Subject: [TramsDownUnder] Tramway Culture
Interesting to see that old "trammie" culture is alive and well
on this list with former employees referring to others as "Mr".Inspectors)
In my time at Camberwell (1974-1976) the DIs (District
were always referred to as "Mr". I think even among the men ingreen.
Can't remember what we called the starters and the inspectors.Can
any old trammie enlighten me?many
The practice was maintained at the Ballarat tramway museum with
of the volunteers referring to each other as "Mr" rather than byService.
their Christian names.
Paul in Melbourne
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