Discover your Queensland railways ancestor

Indexes to railway employee records

State Library’s collection contains CD-ROM indexes of Queensland railway employee records, which provide insight into Thompson Eden’s work history. One key resource is a CD-ROM published by the Queensland Family History Society titled Queensland Railway Employees 1889-1940. This index compiles annual railway employment lists originally published in the Queensland Government Gazette.

Only one reference was found for Thompson Eden. It was published in the July 1889 railway employees list. This shows his occupation, date of first employment which was 1 January 1866, date of appointment to current position and how much he earned per year. This information backs up what was written in the newspaper article that started us on this journey.

Caloundra Family History Society has indexed several Queensland Railways employment records held at Queensland State Archives. These are available to search on CD-ROM (Queensland Government Railway Index to Staff Records 1878 – 1946 and Queensland government railway : index to staff employed in various departments & stations 1889-1912) at State Library. A search of Queensland government railway : index to staff employed in various departments & stations 1889-1912 located 2 references to Thompson Eden. The information in the index includes when he was first appointed and his position. While the information indexed isn’t held at State Library, more detailed resources can be found at Queensland State Archives.

State Library has created a range of indexes to help researchers explore material in our collection and uncover details about a person’s personal and/or working life. One such resource is the online index, Persons called before Queensland government committees index 1860-1920, available through State Library’s catalogue One Search. This index provides the earliest detailed reference to the railway career of Thompson Eden. The index includes details of 8,110 people who were called before select committees, royal commissions, boards of enquiry and election tribunals from 1860-1920, as published in Queensland government publications. In 1879 Thompson Eden was called before a select committee looking into railway workshops. The committee asked him questions about his employment with the Queensland Railway Department as well as his current job responsibilities. His answers not only provide information on how he became employed in Queensland but give insight into his everyday work life at that point in time.

Another resource that can be searched through State Library’s One Search catalogue is the Queensland Railway Employees Index. This index contains details of over 29,000 appointments or removals from the Queensland Railway department that were published in the department’s annual reports. There is just one reference for Thompson Eden. This reference is from the 1890-1891 annual report list of removals for the Southern and Western Railway. Against his name in the ‘Remarks’ column are the words “Services dispensed with”. This matches his retirement mentioned in news article published in the Queensland Times on 21 March 1914. Also listed is his occupation and how much he earned for the year.

Newspapers

Newspapers are a great source of information on people, their families, and places as well as everyday life. State Library’s newspaper collection includes microfilm and paper copies, online databases, clipping files, scrapbooks and more. An amazing online resource for locating articles from old Australian newspapers is Trove digitised historic newspapers. A search for Thompson Eden finds numerous newspaper articles from advertisements, social items, birth notices and golden wedding stories to Queensland railway incidents, obituaries and much more. Through these items much can be learned about Thompson Eden’s life. He served on school and church committees, put entries into local agricultural shows and attended annual railway reunions, and when he moved due to his job, he advertised the sale of property.

Photographs

Photographs are a fascinating way to bring someone’s history to life. State Library has a rich collection of photographs that document the history of the railways in Queensland. A number have been digitised, but not all. The photographs are organised in subject area or by collection. Search, view and / or request through State Library’s One Search catalogue. Any items requested can be viewed on level 4 in the Heritage Collections Reading Room. A search for Thompson Eden does not locate any images of him but there is a photo of his son, A.J. Eden, who also worked for Queensland railways. There are also photographs of the railway workshops from Ipswich and Toowoomba, where Thompson Eden worked. So, although State Library doesn’t hold an image titled Thompson Eden, it is likely that he is in one of the workshops’ photos.

So, whether you’re trying to find your railway connection or get more information on your ancestral railway worker, State Library is a great place to get started. Not only do we have resources you can search, but our highly capable staff are available to help you and provide guidance.

Need help? Contact State Library through our Ask a librarian service.