The document provides an overview of the records held at the NSW State Archives relating to railway employees from the 19th and 20th centuries. It outlines key record series that can be used to find information about individuals who worked for the railways, including registers, personal history cards, photographs and records relating to specific railway occupations. The document encourages researchers to use multiple record types and consider sources beyond just the railway records that may provide context about a railway worker ancestor.

1. I’ve been working on the
railroad and elsewhere….
Selected sources in the NSW State archives

2. 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

3. 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!

9. 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.

12. Nominal Roll of the First Railway Section (AIF)
NRS 15905, Reel 3050, page 7

14. 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

15. Extracted from Government Gazette and Parliamentary Papers

16. Extracted from Government
Gazette and Parliamentary
Papers
Tip: Women were frequently
employed as gatekeepers

17. Register of Salaried
Officers, 1856-90 [R297]

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

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

20. 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]

26. Allen Walter Wilson NRS 19333/1/456
Employees born between 1900 and 1962

27. Leonard Mervyn Little NRS 19375/1/21
Country and metropolitan employees 1928-86

28. These records are covered by
Access Direction AD 1184.
Under this direction the
records are closed for 30
years from date of separation

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

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

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

32. Ambulance Corps Roll, 1886–1923 (R306)

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

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

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

38. 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

39. 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

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

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

42. Coffs Harbour Railway Refreshment Room – staff, 1947

43. 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

44. Tramway employees
• Tip also check the Railway Personal History Cards

45. NRS 12919,
[7/8107]

48. 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]

50. NRS 10824,
[X2332]

51. NRS 9822,
[7/7500.2]

52. NRS 9822,
[7/7500.2]