Joe McGrew - Shunter 1945-1965

[GNRi1959]

I made an effort to call with Joe McGrew tonight, he'd just been home after a week in hospital. I brought along my treasured GNRi enamel badge and pinned it on his pullover. He deserved to have it more than me. Joe was a shunter at Omagh General Station for over 20 years and shunted wagons between the Goods Store and the Market Branch every day. He talked of runaway cattle trains, BU's (Bread Units) from Inglis, Hughes' and Stephensons, as well as the big companies who had sidings there - Esso, Shell at the Coal Sidings - reserved for Wattersons and McCuskers Coal. We spent the evening looking through a wealth of photographs and talking about his days on the GNRi. He said shunting was 'like playing chess with wagons'. What an enjoyable evening.

Edited December 29, 2017 by GNRi1959