大象传媒

At the beginning of the war I lived in Newport-on-Tay across the river from Dundee. I worked as a cook/housekeeper for a local family. As this was not regarded as a "work of national importance", I was called up for military service. However, having had trouble with varicose veins, I was exempt but was sent to work in a laundry for some time.

In those days, the railways were used far more for carrying goods than they are now and it was essential to keep the trains running, because they carried troops on their way to barracks, or home on 48 hours leave, before being drafted overseas to the "frontline". So it became necessary to recruit women to fill the gaps left in the railway service by men who joined the forces. I was one of several women who were given six weeks training as railway guards, and were then expected to do everything the men had done.

I worked on the Dundee to Edinburgh line. It was heavy work, loading up the guard's van with goods, guiding passengers onto the train and checking that all doors were properly closed. This had to be done quickly, as the train had to run on time. Then, with the flag raised and whistle blown, the train would start right away and I had often to jump on the morning train as it left the station. At Leuchars, Cupar and other intermediate stations, there were often goods to be put off or taken on and passengers to be helped. Then the flag, the whistle again and the usual scramble to get on board.

I worked shifts, sometimes starting from Dundee at 6am. This meant an early rise at 4.30am. As there was no transport over the river at that time of morning, I usually stayed overnight with my sister in Step Row - a reasonable walking distance from the Dundee Station. Other shifts meant that I had a very late finish. I was given special permission to walk across the railway bridge using the walkway meant for bridge maintenance workers only. In summertime these early and late walks were quite pleasant but in winter I had to walk in cold and complete darkness because of the blackout regulations.

There were no official meal breaks, just straight shifts right through, so we had to bring our own snacks to be eaten on draughty platforms between runs or on board the train in the guard's van, as and when we had a minute to spare.

Of course, some of the railway men who were exempt from military service resented the presence of women on the job and were quick to pick faults. I was just as quick to tell them "You lot learned your job over 6 years. We got six weeks to learn it".

Women in Dundee filled the gaps in other ways too. Some drove buses, were nursing auxiliaries or worked in munitions factories. We all did our bit to help.

They say "Hard work never hurt anyone", I'm sure that's true, though I don't think it did much for my varicose veins - they still trouble me. However, I'm still here to tell the tale at 97 years of age.

Elizabeth Gilruth via Dundee Central Library

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