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Robert White – Yarmouth

This is a holding page, shortly to be updated with the full life story of Robert White. For now, an outline sketch is included. Please check back again soon.

 

Sepia-toned photograph, showing a basic single platform brick-built railway station, with a pair of points in the foreground for the passing loop. Take from track level, looking up at two men and a boy on the station platform, along with the dog. Enamel adverts are attached to the station walls and fencing. A telegraph pole, lamp and housing are also visible.
Yarmouth station in approximately 1900. Station master Robert White is seen on the platform, on the right.
Courtesy Isle of Wight Steam Railway Photographic Archive.

 

Robert White was connected to Yarmouth throughout his life. He was born there in 1867, and after time working as a carpenter, he joined the railway. By 1901 he was Yarmouth’s station master. As this was a relatively small station, with light traffic, it didn’t have a big station staff. Even as station master, Robert was actively involved in the daily working of the station.

On 5 February 1901, Robert was coupling (joining together) two wagons. He tried to go under the wagon buffers (shock absorbers), but his leg was caught and severely injured by the wagon’s wheels. He hadn’t been given the proper tools to do the job. It looks like this ended his railway career; in 1911 he was a gardener, and in 1921 he was Yarmouth’s pier master. He died in 1937.