The station master (or stationmaster) is the person in charge of a railway station, particularly in the United Kingdom and many other countries outside North America. In the United Kingdom, where the term originated, it is now largely historical[1] or colloquial, with the contemporary term being station manager. However, the term station master remains current on many heritage railways, and also in many countries outside the United Kingdom, notably the extensive Indian Railways network.
Historically a male occupation, women were sometimes appointed to the position, and the gender variation station mistress was sometimes employed in such cases. In the United States the role is commonly termed station agent.[2]
The station master is responsible for the management of other station employees and holds responsibility for safety and the efficient running of the station. The term was historically employed across stations of all sizes, leading to variation in the precise role. At a major city terminus, with potentially hundreds of employees, the station master's duties would focus on personnel management and public relations. At smaller town and country stations, with a more limited staff, the station master would have far more customer interaction with travelling passengers, and would commonly deputise for other members of staff in their absence.
On the contemporary British rail network a station manager at a major station has duties very similar to those described above. The more localised role of station master at small country stations no longer exists, with group station managers taking responsibility for two or more stations. In very rural areas a station manager may be responsible for a large number of stations, or even for all the stations on a local branch line.
Historically, the station master was deputised (in his absence) by an assistant station master (ASM). In large stations this might be a full-time position. In smaller local stations, the ASM title was often attached to another post, such as senior booking clerk, or even head porter. On heritage railways, the ASM role is often unchanged from this historic role. The ASM post also continues in many Commonwealth nations, and other countries which have experienced British influence.[3] In contemporary British railway operations, the station manager is commonly deputised by one or more shift station managers.[4]
The number of other employees at a railway station varies according to size. A historic station master would typically manage a number of booking clerks (responsible for ticket sales and financial auditing), porters (responsible for platform safety, luggage transportation, and cleaning), and often ancillary staff in catering, left luggage, and maintenance roles. Although technically part of the engineering department, a station master might also have day-to-day management of signalmen in the station's signal box.
Social positionedit
The former station master's house at Narrandera, Australia
From the late Victorian era onwards, station masters became prominent figures in local communities. Invariably they would be provided with a substantial house[5] and, in ruralcommunities particularly, would have significant social standing.[6]
The uniforms worn by station masters, whilst varying widely between different railway companies, often incorporated gold braid embroidery, and peaked caps with gold banding, giving the office-holder a high profile in the community. With his uniform, official housing, and public prominence, the station master was respected and widely attributed with seniority in the local community.[7]
Some station masters achieved legendary fame in their communities. The late James Miller, long-serving station master at Oxford railway station, received widespread recognition for his devoted service in the post, including civic decoration, a public-subscription retirement gift, the award of the British Empire Medal, and the naming of a carriage siding after him.[8]
In the Beeching cuts of the 1960s many small stations were closed and the station master's house, along with other railway property, sold off. Typically, these buildings retained their original name and in many communities the Station Master's House can still be found as a private dwelling[6] or converted into a restaurant.[9]
In current Indian society station masters continue to enjoy a high social standing,[citation needed] and there is considerable competition for vacancies. Indian Railways staff who have attained the grade of assistant station master (ASM), or station master (including regional station managers), have their own professional body or trade union, the All India Station Masters' Association.
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For other uses see Station master disambiguation The station master or stationmaster is the person in charge of a railway station particularly in the United Kingdom and many other countries outside North America In the United Kingdom where the term originated it is now largely historical 1 or colloquial with the contemporary term being station manager However the term station master remains current on many heritage railways and also in many countries outside the United Kingdom notably the extensive Indian Railways network Station mistress at Padbury railway stationHistorically a male occupation women were sometimes appointed to the position and the gender variation station mistress was sometimes employed in such cases In the United States the role is commonly termed station agent 2 Contents 1 Job description 2 Deputies and staff 3 Social position 4 See also 5 ReferencesJob description editThe station master is responsible for the management of other station employees and holds responsibility for safety and the efficient running of the station The term was historically employed across stations of all sizes leading to variation in the precise role At a major city terminus with potentially hundreds of employees the station master s duties would focus on personnel management and public relations At smaller town and country stations with a more limited staff the station master would have far more customer interaction with travelling passengers and would commonly deputise for other members of staff in their absence On the contemporary British rail network a station manager at a major station has duties very similar to those described above The more localised role of station master at small country stations no longer exists with group station managers taking responsibility for two or more stations In very rural areas a station manager may be responsible for a large number of stations or even for all the stations on a local branch line Deputies and staff edit nbsp Station master s office at Norchard railway stationHistorically the station master was deputised in his absence by an assistant station master ASM In large stations this might be a full time position In smaller local stations the ASM title was often attached to another post such as senior booking clerk or even head porter On heritage railways the ASM role is often unchanged from this historic role The ASM post also continues in many Commonwealth nations and other countries which have experienced British influence 3 In contemporary British railway operations the station manager is commonly deputised by one or more shift station managers 4 The number of other employees at a railway station varies according to size A historic station master would typically manage a number of booking clerks responsible for ticket sales and financial auditing porters responsible for platform safety luggage transportation and cleaning and often ancillary staff in catering left luggage and maintenance roles Although technically part of the engineering department a station master might also have day to day management of signalmen in the station s signal box Social position edit nbsp The former station master s house at Narrandera AustraliaFrom the late Victorian era onwards station masters became prominent figures in local communities Invariably they would be provided with a substantial house 5 and in rural communities particularly would have significant social standing 6 The uniforms worn by station masters whilst varying widely between different railway companies often incorporated gold braid embroidery and peaked caps with gold banding giving the office holder a high profile in the community With his uniform official housing and public prominence the station master was respected and widely attributed with seniority in the local community 7 Some station masters achieved legendary fame in their communities The late James Miller long serving station master at Oxford railway station received widespread recognition for his devoted service in the post including civic decoration a public subscription retirement gift the award of the British Empire Medal and the naming of a carriage siding after him 8 In the Beeching cuts of the 1960s many small stations were closed and the station master s house along with other railway property sold off Typically these buildings retained their original name and in many communities the Station Master s House can still be found as a private dwelling 6 or converted into a restaurant 9 In current Indian society station masters continue to enjoy a high social standing citation needed and there is considerable competition for vacancies Indian Railways staff who have attained the grade of assistant station master ASM or station master including regional station managers have their own professional body or trade union the All India Station Masters Association See also editList of railway industry occupations Tama cat References edit Old Occupations in Scotland Scot Roots Station Agent Municipal Railway 9131 San Francisco Department of Human Resources January 15 2010 Retrieved October 14 2013 Assistant Station Master ASM role description indianrailwayemployee com Indian Railways Working in a Major Station networkrail co uk Network Rail Woodford Station Master s house The Transport Archive a b The history of Scotby Station See details including examples at 100 years of Station Master memories National Railway Museum England Illustrated full account from the Oxford Mail newspaper Meopham Kent Rail Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Station master amp oldid 1129221261, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
