This discussion brings together rail historians and railway workers to tell the stories of LGBTQIA+ rail workers, marking an exciting new oral history project launched by the National Railway Museum.
In 2023 the National Railway Museum launched a research project, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, to record the history of LGBTQIA+ railway workers. Called People, Pride and Progress, the project will record at least 70 oral history interviews with people from the rail industry to document their experiences and fill a gap in railway knowledge before it is lost.
The rail industry has changed from an often-hostile environment for LGBTQIA+ employees in the 19th and much of the 20th centuries to a much more diverse and accepting industry, but because of historic prejudice, information is not readily available and few personal records exist.
This panel discusses some of these stories and experiences, asking the question of how the culture changed or improved for LGBTQIA+ rail workers in 2024, what still needs to improve and will explore the community’s contribution to the railways.
Speakers include:
- Anthony Dawson—railway historian and author who specialises in early rail history and who has appeared on Channel 4’s Time Team and Channel 5’s Secret History of the Railways.
- Ashlynn Hudson-Welburn—Archivist, People, Pride and Progress Oral History Project, National Railway Museum.
- Raye Fullard—Diversity and Inclusion Manager at Rail Delivery Group.
- Ron Whalley—Railway Safety Systems Consultant.
- Tim Dunn (Chair)—Railway historian, broadcaster and presenter of UKTV’s The Architecture the Railways Built and Secret of the London Underground.
Scheduled dates
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