On Saturday 1 June, colleagues at the National Railway Museum came together to take part in York Pride, in celebration and support of our LGBTQIA+ colleagues and community.
Partnered up with LNER, TransPennine, and TransPennine Route Upgrade, we were joined by over 100 employees from these organisations, all passionate to support equality and show that the rail industry is a place that welcomes LGBTQIA+ individuals.
Museum colleagues also hosted a stall on the Pride festival grounds to talk about our research into how LGBTQIA+ history and the railways is intertwined. Inside the museum, colleagues offered flag making throughout June. This hands-on event was perfect for all ages, offering an opportunity to find out more about how flags are used as a universal means of communication both on the railways and as a way of expressing identity and individuality.
Railways and LGBTQAI+ History
Since their inception, railways have played a pivotal role in the lives of people and communities, both as an employer, and through the connections between people and places they facilitate what wouldn’t exist otherwise. Railways have always been fundamental to shaping the society and communities we live in. In our blog, researched and authored by members of the LGBTQIA+ community, we touch a little more on some of these ways that railways and the community have intersected.
One of the biggest challenges faced by museums and members of the community in understanding, preserving, and celebrating these stories, is that very few personal records exist that record what everyday life was like for LGBTQIA+ individuals–a challenge unique to this community. Due largely to safety concerns over social attitudes, laws, and the risk of being ‘outed’ (as discussed by participants in our Science Museum Group Open Talk in May 2024) few records were made, and fewer survive–this knowledge only survives in the memories of those who lived it.
People, Pride & Progress
We are currently recording oral histories with LGBTQIA+ railway workers across Britain. This work has been instigated, funded and led by members of the LGBTQIA+ community and has received funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The project aims to connect individuals whose careers in rail touched different eras to chat about their memories of the industry. Their experiences will be captured in audio recordings, conducted in a comfortable setting of their choosing. Participants can choose to remain anonymous or to have their contributions restricted from public access for up to 100 years. It’s up to the individual–but it is vital that this history is preserved before it is lost.
The project will run until November 2025 and is currently seeking LGBTQIA+ individuals who worked in any part of the rail industry and are happy to share their memories. This includes anyone who worked in passenger and freight operating companies, supply chain, maintenance, policy, infrastructure, or other parts of the industry–under British Rail or in the first decade after rail privatisation in 1997.
If you would like to take part, please visit our project page for information on how to get in touch. If you know somebody who may be a good candidate, please let them know about the project!
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