Page:Engines and men- the history of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen. A survey of organisation of railways and railway locomotive men (IA enginesmenhistor00rayniala).pdf/304



EFORE plunging into the second phase of the negotiations which made 1919 a landmark in the history of the Society, it should be noted that the transfer from a war to a peace footing was affecting life for the better at every tum. No longer were we warned to lower the blinds, and to hide all light by night, and to be on guard about saying anything to anybody else. The nerve-racking terror of air raids had gone, and there was even a prospect of better bread soon, although butter was but e memory of long ago. The year 1919 saw some re-introduction of the old railway facilities, which had been gradually narrowed down from 1916 onwards. Express trains were decelerated in that year, and restaurant cars withdrawn, and 1917 saw even more drastic changes, including a restriction of luggage, an increase of fares—a withdrawal of cheap fares and an increase of fifty per cent, in ordinary fares— a reduced service, the closing down of many stations and halts, and the entire withdrawal of some train services. We had become familiar with the presence of women gate-keepers, porters, guards, carriage and engine cleaners, and even ticket inspectors. When in 1919 there came a mighty release of men, new light and life came, albeit England in 1921 was still only a sorry comparison to its former self.