This page is one of a series introducing railway staff who worked in and around Stoke-on-Trent before 1939. They’ve been researched as part of the ‘Tracks through Time’ initiative – which you can read more about here.
The workers featured were largely selected from staff who appear in the Railway Work, Life & Death project database of accidents to pre-1939 British and Irish railway workers.
Please note that a fuller life story is under preparation – coming soon!
Arthur Dean’s misfortune might have made things better for others – small consolation for him, perhaps.
He worked for the London, Midland & Scottish Railway as a ‘lampman’ – a relatively junior role in the signalling grades. He would have done things like keep signal lamps topped up with oil, so they could be lit at night.
On 24 August 1931 he was cleaning the windows of Cliffe Vale signal box. He propped the ladder against the rails, but a steam engine hit the ladder and he fell. Fortunately he was only bruised.
The investigation into the incident recommended the signal box be given a platform to allow safe access for window cleaning.