Equipment the Train Guard/Conductors used

From the late 1940's right through until the railway changed into Ellerton hands most of the tickets were sold "on the train" by travelling guards/conductors who used to sit on the small "dickey" seats by the brake wheel on the open articulated coaches. Sun or rain you'd find them sat there except when the train consisted of totally closed coaches, then the guard would be inside somewhere towards the back of the train.

Guards Equipment

Each guard was entrusted with 4 pieces of company property to effectively carry out these tasks and the following images show the money bag, ticket rack, Bell punch (used by early guards) and ticket clippers (that replaced the Bell punch).

Money Bag, leather with 2 internal divisions enabling pound coins, fifty pence pieces and the rest to be separated for ease of the guard. The magic wallet was also carried in here. (c) Bill Hyde collection Ticket Rack. Wooden and double sided. Each side featured a number of spring clips into which a block of tickets were inserted, adults one side, children the other. Dexterity was needed to be sure to dispense the correct ticket and not lose a finger nail! (c) Bill Hyde collection Bell punch, originally carried on a leather strap and hung on one side of the body (the money bag hung over the other shoulder). The ticket was placed in the slot at the top and lever at the bottom depressed to achieve a punched hole. Not really much good in a rush when the guard had to sell and clip approx a 100 tickts in less than 10 minutes! (c) Bill Hyde collection Ticket Clippers, standard Fairbourne Railway issue once the Bell Punch's were dispensed with. Accuracy could be achieved and if sufficient pressure applied, more than one ticket could be 'punched' at the same time!

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The fourth item carried was the magic wallet, with which a skilled guard could keep a compartment of noisy kids quiet for a good part of the journey. Into these all the bank notes collected or offered in change were placed, before the wallet was placed in the money bag with the coinage carried.

The Fairbourne Railway issue magic wallets were all plain black but instead of trying to describe them, extensive research has found something better. Click the link to see the the magic wallet in action:

MAGIC WALLET