Volume Twelve - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - further aspects - Railway Magazine - Interview with Mr. Ammon Beasley - TVR - 1898 . . . .

Mr. Riches, the Locomotive Superintendent, received his early training in the Taff Vale shops, and Mr. Sibbering, our Engineer, although he was not articled to a Taff Vale engineer, has been fifteen years in the service, and for four years has held the position of Chief Engineer.

Mr. Clarke, the Secretary, and Mr. Tilley, the Goods Manager, have been in the service of the Company during the whole of their railway lives.

Mr. Harland, the Outdoor Superintendent, until about six years ago, was in the service of the Great Western Railway."

"I fear I am occupying much of your valuable time, and I will therefore ask you for some details of your career before finally closing this interesting interview."

"I am sorry to say that I have been quite forty years connected with railways. You know, no doubt, that I was connected with the Great Western until 1891, when I was asked to take the management of this railway.

I do not know that there is anything in my career which is likely to be of special interest to your readers, as it has simply been a career of hard work, which is precisely what most other railwaymen would say if asked.

If I had come here with any expectation that I was going to have an easy time which I did not - subsequent experience would have shown me my mistake.

One great feature of railway work is that, however hard and exacting it may be, it is not monotonous, and for that one may be at least thankful."

'Many thanks to you, Mr. Beasley, for the interesting information relative to the Taff Vale Railway you have afforded me.

I am sure RAILWAY MAGAZINE readers will be most pleased to be favoured with the details you have so kindly placed at their disposal."