Do you know any former Eastleigh Works workers in the area? There is a reunion for them and they are all welcome to attend.
Here is an article by Steve Allen about the reunion: the reunion will be on Friday 10th August 2018 at the Eastleigh Railway Institute.
Eastleigh Works Reunion has been running for over 40 years. In the 1970s it was started by Roy Dawkins Barry Ashton and Bill Lashley. Number did decline as the workforce became older. But since the closure of the works there has been increased interest in the reunion and last year 140 ex-workers came.
Reunion: Friday 10th August 2018
This year we hope to top 150 but many ex-workers may still think it’s not open to all workers. We would love to see new people including office workers and other departments at our reunion.
Since the closure of the works many ex-workers have found jobs and some have their own businesses. his was due to the varied skills base within the works.
Please visit our Facebook Page Eastleigh Works Reunion or just come down on the night.
Timeline of Eastleigh Works
1891 – Carriage & Wagon Works open
1903 – Loco works open in Campbell Rd
1910 – Nine Elms (London) move operation to Loco Works
1938 – The War Effort made in the works
D – Day landing craft
The Blenheim Bomber parts
Anti Tank Guns
Rocket Launchers
And many other item for the Armed Services
1945 – Pioneered the use of plastics and Fibre glass in construction
of rolling stock
1950 – Railway Nationalisation
1962 – Carriage and Loco merge at Campbell Rd
1970 – Workforce topped 1800
1980 – Saw a resurgence of work with more customers needing
refurbishment
1990 – Start of the decline of the works as slamdoor commute fleet was being phased out and new improved stock needed less maintenance
1995 – Management buy out by Wessex Traincare
1998 – Works sold to Alstom but the decline signs were written on the wall
2004 – Alstom announced the closure of the works
2006 – Works closed with hundreds job loses
A story of Steve and Eastleigh Works: A rewarding job
Once my 5 year apprenticeship was over I started work in the Heavy Lift road looking after the Wheel Bogies for the Railway Carriages. After 6 years I had the chance to go into the Tool room and become a Toolmaker, making all kinds of jigs, gauges, press tools.
One of my main jobs was to look after the copy wheel Lathes which need a lot of attention to keep them turning out Good wheel sets. I progress to looking after the Apprentices. This was a rewarding job which I did enjoy very much. I finished up looking after the calibration area making sure all the tools and gauges were in tip top condition to be used.
I was made redundant just before Christmas 2005 . A sad time for all of us saying goodbye to friends of 30 years or more.
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