NRS-12922 | Railway Personal History Cards - Employees born before 1900

Full description

These cards detail the service history of railway employees born prior to 1900, and were kept by the Finance Branch to record rates of pay, leave, and superannuation entitlements. Most cards relate to permanent employees, but some cards for construction and casual employees are also included. The cards do not provide details of persons whose employment had ceased prior to the introduction of the Railway Service Superannuation Act, effective from 1 October 1910. The consistency of handwriting on cards for employees working from the late 1800s through to the end of 1910 suggests that prior information may have been transferred onto a new card system following the introduction of the new Act.

Cards for permanent employees record name and date of birth, date of probationary and permanent appointment, staff number, date of commencing contributions to the Railway Service Superannuation Fund (or the preceding Civil Service Superannuation Fund), position held, railways branch employed by, name of railway station(s) employed at, rate of pay, and a “remarks” column where qualifications, award variations, leave taken, medical conditions affecting employment, military leave, information regarding dismissal, retrenchment, resignation or retirement, and details of superannuation entitlements were recorded.

Cards for construction employees list name, date of birth, marital status, address, previous military service, usually a specimen signature, place of employment, position held, staff number, rate of pay, details of time worked, with award variations, resignation, re-employment, and dismissal details listed in the remarks column. Cards for casual employees list similar details, but do not include information regarding marital status, address, or military service.

Cards for later employees are held in NRS-19333 Railway Personal History Cards - Employees born between 1900 and 1962.