ANDREW Martin’s memories of his father’s time in the Railway HQ (The Press, March 25) is a reason to recall some memories of one who joined the London North Eastern Railway in 1947 after four years war service in the RAFVR.

His first appointment was as junior clerk in Central Control, where indeed there were “the cleverest men in Yorkshire” who oversaw the operation of the railway network.

As this young man soon became to realise going about his duties, including producing cups of tea as required; at the same time, beginning fast-track learning about the railway operations, in an office manned for 24 hours by six staff every day throughout the year in eight-hour shifts, using the railway’s own telephone network to collect the decision-making information from all sections of the region, to keep the trains running, as various operating problems arose.

This preceded many years working in several departments in the operation of the North Eastern section of what became British Rail. It was a ‘secure’ job then, later on it became less secure, which led to early retirement.

Many things changed from those early days, when in 1947 male staff were expected to wear a suit, collar and tie, except on Saturday morning when sports coat and flannels were allowed.

The typing pool was an exclusion zone for male staff; the young ladies would come round at regular intervals to collect new and deliver completed work, usually in pairs.

The many hundreds of office workers arrived at work by walking, cycling, bus, train and very occasionally one or two would come in their car, with hardly any parking problems.

J Beisly, Osprey Close, York.