# National Union of Railwaymen

The National Union of Railwaymen was a trade union of railway workers in the United Kingdom. The largest railway workers' union in the country, it was influential in the national trade union movement.

## History

The NUR was an industrial union founded in 1913 by the merger of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants (founded 1872), the United Pointsmen and Signalmen's Society (founded 1880) and the General Railway Workers' Union (founded 1889).
The NUR represented the majority of railway workers, but not white-collar workers, who were members of the Railway Clerks' Association (founded 1897, later the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association). NUR membership was open to drivers and firemen but most chose instead to be members of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (founded 1880).
In 1914 the NUR joined forces with the National Transport Workers' Federation and Mining Federation of Great Britain to form the Triple Alliance – perhaps an unfortunate name, as the same year the Triple Entente of Britain, France and Russia and the Triple Alliance of Germany, and Austria-Hungary (albeit without Italy) went to war.
In 1919 the NUR and ASLEF jointly organised the 1919 United Kingdom railway strike, which prevented a proposed wage reduction and won an eight-hour maximum working day. The NUR formed Federation agreements with ASLEF in 1903 and 1982 but both were short-lived.
The NUR had 408,900 members in 1945, making it the fifth largest union in Britain. Its membership fell to 369,400 in 1956 and 227,800 in 1966.
Following the formation of British Rail, the majority of NUR members worked for the nationalised organisation. However, other members worked for London Transport, the National Freight Corporation and various smaller companies. It also recruited British Rail workers in associated industries, such as its hotels, docks and harbours, and on the Sealink ferries.
In 1990 the NUR merged with the National Union of Seamen to form the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) and ceased to exist as a separate union.

## Election results

The union sponsored numerous Labour Party Parliamentary candidates, many of whom won election.
| Election | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | % share | Position |
| 1918 general election | Cardiff East | Arthur James Williams | 5,554 | 28.5 | 3 |
| 1918 general election | Derby | J. H. Thomas | 25,145 | 37.8 | 1 |
| 1918 general election | Manchester Ardwick | Thomas Lowth | 5,670 | 31.8 | 2 |
| 1918 general election | Middlesbrough West | Charlie Cramp | 5,350 | 32.8 | 2 |
| 1918 general election | Newcastle-upon-Tyne East | Walter Hudson | 5,195 | 34.7 | 2 |
| 1918 general election | Reading | Thomas Charles Morris | 8,410 | 29.8 | 2 |
| 1918 general election | Wakefield | Albert Bellamy | 5,882 | 33.7 | 2 |
| 1918 general election | Warrington | Isaac Brassington | 5,377 | 22.6 | 3 |
| 1921 by-election | Dudley | James Wilson | 10,244 | 50.7 | 1 |
| 1921 by-election | Heywood and Radcliffe | Walter Halls | 13,430 | 41.7 | 1 |
| 1922 general election | Bolton | William James Abraham | 20,156 | 15.8 | 4 |
| 1922 general election | Bristol East | Luke Bateman | 13,759 | 49.7 | 2 |
| 1922 general election | Cardiff East | Arthur James Williams | 7,506 | 31.4 | 3 |
| 1922 general election | Derby | J. H. Thomas | 25,215 | 27.0 | 1 |
| 1922 general election | Dudley | James Wilson | 8,522 | 39.8 | 2 |
| 1922 general election | Heywood and Radcliffe | Walter Halls | 15,334 | 44.6 | 2 |
| 1922 general election | Leeds South | Henry Charleton | 13,210 | 53.7 | 1 |
| 1922 general election | Leyton East | William Carter | 6,300 | 30.9 | 2 |
| 1922 general election | Manchester Ardwick | Thomas Lowth | 14,031 | 52.3 | 1 |
| 1922 general election | Salford West | Arthur Law | 8,724 | 32.3 | 2 |
| 1922 general election | Wakefield | Albert Bellamy | 9,798 | 48.5 | 2 |
| 1922 general election | Wolverhampton East | William Thomas Augustus Foot | 3,076 | 12.2 | 3 |
| 1923 general election | Derby | J. H. Thomas | 24,887 | 29.0 | 1 |
| 1923 general election | Leeds South | Henry Charleton | 11,705 | 44.2 | 1 |
| 1923 general election | Manchester Ardwick | Thomas Lowth | 15,673 | 60.4 | 1 |
| 1923 general election | Heywood and Radcliffe | Walter Halls | 15,273 | 47.1 | 2 |
| 1923 general election | Rushcliffe | James Wilson | 6,882 | 24.7 | 3 |
| 1924 general election | Barkston Ash | William Dobbie | 11,894 | 41.4 | 2 |
| 1924 general election | Derby | J. H. Thomas | 27,423 | 25.7 | 1 |
| 1924 general election | Leeds South | Henry Charleton | 12,799 | 46.3 | 1 |
| 1924 general election | Manchester Ardwick | Thomas Lowth | 15,941 | 54.9 | 1 |
| 1924 general election | Oldham | James Wilson | 22,081 | 18.4 | 4 |
| 1924 general election | Paddington North | John William Gordon | 10,481 | 38.1 | 2 |
| 1924 general election | Wakefield | George Sherwood | 10,192 | 47.9 | 2 |
| 1928 by-election | Ashton-under-Lyne | Albert Bellamy | 9,567 | 40.6 | 1 |
| 1929 general election | Ashton-under-Lyne | Albert Bellamy | 13,170 | 44.4 | 1 |
| 1929 general election | Berwick-upon-Tweed | Henry Kegie | 5,402 | 18.4 | 2 |
| 1929 general election | Bethnal Green South West | Christopher John Kelly | 6,849 | 38.7 | 2 |
| 1929 general election | Clitheroe | William Dobbie | 15,592 | 39.5 | 2 |
| 1929 general election | Derby | J. H. Thomas | 39,688 | 30.0 | 1 |
| 1929 general election | Leeds South | Henry Charleton | 18,043 | 52.5 | 1 |
| 1929 general election | Lonsdale | Joseph Henderson | 7,303 | 25.4 | 3 |
| 1929 general election | Manchester Ardwick | Thomas Lowth | 20,041 | 60.3 | 1 |
| 1929 general election | Oldham | James Wilson | 32,727 | 25.0 | 2 |
| 1929 general election | Paddington North | John William Gordon | 13,348 | 39.3 | 2 |
| 1929 general election | Rossendale | Arthur Law | 14,624 | 36.0 | 1 |
| 1929 general election | Wakefield | George Henry Sherwood | 13,393 | 48.8 | 1 |
| 1929 general election | Westbury | George Ward | 7,458 | 22.5 | 3 |
| 1929 general election | York | Frederick George Burgess | 20,663 | 45.0 | 1 |
| 1931 by-election | Ashton-under-Lyne | John William Gordon | 11,005 | 39.4 | 2 |
| 1931 by-election | Manchester Ardwick | Joseph Henderson | 15,294 | 50.5 | 1 |
| 1931 general election | Ashton-under-Lyne | John William Gordon | 11,074 | 37.1 | 2 |
| 1931 general election | Leeds South | Henry Charleton | 14,156 | 40.1 | 2 |
| 1931 general election | Manchester Ardwick | Joseph Henderson | 15,664 | 42.0 | 2 |
| 1931 general election | Middlesbrough West | Henry Kegie | 13,040 | 33.4 | 2 |
| 1931 general election | Oldham | James Wilson | 26,631 | | 4 |
| 1931 general election | Plymouth Sutton | George Ward | 14,073 | 36.7 | 2 |
| 1931 general election | Rossendale | Arthur Law | 11,135 | 27.5 | 3 |
| 1931 general election | Stalybridge and Hyde | William Dobbie | 14,251 | 28.1 | 2 |
| 1931 general election | Wakefield | George Sherwood | 11,774 | 42.6 | 2 |
| 1931 general election | York | Frederick George Burgess | 16,310 | 35.1 | 2 |
| 1933 by-election | Rotherham | William Dobbie | 28,767 | 69.1 | 1 |
| 1935 by-election | Edinburgh West | William McAdam | 10,462 | 33.9 | 2 |
| 1935 general election | Accrington | Frederick George Burgess | 21,203 | 45.6 | 2 |
| 1935 general election | Barrow-in-Furness | Percy Barstow | 17,919 | 49.7 | 2 |
| 1935 general election | Eccles | Jack Grierson | 20,055 | 47.3 | 2 |
| 1935 general election | Gateshead | James Wilson | 25,804 | 47.3 | 2 |
| 1935 general election | Leeds South | Henry Charleton | 15,223 | 46.0 | 1 |
| 1935 general election | Manchester Ardwick | Joseph Henderson | 16,364 | 52.9 | 1 |
| 1935 general election | Middlesbrough West | Henry Kegie | 12,764 | 33.7 | 2 |
| 1935 general election | Norwich | Christopher John Kelly | 22,055 | 17.8 | 4 |
| 1935 general election | Plymouth Sutton | George Ward | 15,394 | 41.7 | 2 |
| 1935 general election | Pontefract | Adam Hills | 19,783 | 53.4 | 1 |
| 1935 general election | Rotherham | William Dobbie | 29,725 | 67.5 | 1 |
| 1935 general election | Salford North | William McAdam | 15,272 | 43.4 | 2 |
| 1941 by-election | Pontefract | Percy Barstow | unopposed | N/A | 1 |
| 1944 by-election | Sheffield Attercliffe | John Hynd | unopposed | N/A | 1 |
| 1945 general election | Acton | Joseph Sparks | 19,950 | 56.1 | 1 |
| 1945 general election | Eccles | William Proctor | 23,008 | 51.1 | 1 |
| 1945 general election | Exeter | Reginald Travess | 15,245 | 40.2 | 2 |
| 1945 general election | Manchester Ardwick | Joseph Henderson | 14,360 | 64.0 | 1 |
| 1945 general election | Newcastle upon Tyne West | Ernest Popplewell | 28,149 | 58.5 | 1 |
| 1945 general election | Pontefract | Percy Barstow | 24,690 | 60.6 | 1 |
| 1945 general election | Rotherham | James Harrison | 35,654 | 74.2 | 1 |
| 1945 general election | Salford North | William McAdam | 18,327 | 60.5 | 1 |
| 1945 general election | Sheffield Attercliffe | John Hynd | 23,468 | 81.4 | 1 |
| 1945 general election | South Derbyshire | Arthur Champion | 47,586 | 57.7 | 1 |
| 1945 general election | The Hartlepools | D. T. Jones | 16,502 | 41.2 | 1 |
| 1945 general election | The Wrekin | Ivor Owen Thomas | 22,453 | 56.3 | 1 |
| 1945 general election | West Stirlingshire | Alfred Balfour | 16,066 | 54.4 | 1 |
| 1948 by-election | Glasgow Camlachie | John Inglis | 10,690 | 42.1 | 2 |
| 1950 general election | Acton | Joseph Sparks | 21,751 | 49.1 | 1 |
| 1950 general election | Birmingham Perry Barr | Cecil Poole | 23,178 | 56.6 | 1 |
| 1950 general election | Eccles | William Proctor | 27,409 | 50.7 | 1 |
| 1950 general election | Manchester Wythenshawe | Charles Bridges | 17,191 | 37.2 | 2 |
| 1950 general election | Newcastle upon Tyne West | Ernest Popplewell | 31,230 | 58.2 | 1 |
| 1950 general election | Nottingham East | James Harrison | 20,404 | 46.5 | 1 |
| 1950 general election | Sheffield Attercliffe | John Hynd | 30,726 | 71.6 | 1 |
| 1950 general election | South East Derbyshire | Arthur Champion | 30,039 | 49.1 | 1 |
| 1950 general election | The Hartlepools | D. T. Jones | 25,609 | 50.6 | 1 |
| 1950 general election | The Wrekin | Ivor Owen Thomas | 19,730 | 53.7 | 1 |
| 1950 general election | Westbury | Reginald Travess | 15,766 | 35.6 | 2 |
| 1950 general election | West Stirlingshire | Alfred Balfour | 19,930 | 55.6 | 1 |
| 1951 general election | Acton | Joseph Sparks | 23,287 | 52.2 | 1 |
| 1951 general election | Birmingham Perry Barr | Cecil Poole | 23,322 | 58.1 | 1 |
| 1951 general election | Eccles | William Proctor | 27,941 | 52.5 | 1 |
| 1951 general election | Haltemprice | Charles Bridges | 19,584 | 41.9 | 2 |
| 1951 general election | Newcastle upon Tyne West | Ernest Popplewell | 31,765 | 57.9 | 1 |
| 1951 general election | Nottingham East | James Harrison | 20,865 | 47.8 | 1 |
| 1951 general election | Sheffield Attercliffe | John Hynd | 29,958 | 71.1 | 1 |
| 1951 general election | South East Derbyshire | Arthur Champion | 33,020 | 52.7 | 1 |
| 1951 general election | The Hartlepools | D. T. Jones | 27,147 | 52.6 | 1 |
| 1951 general election | The Wrekin | Ivor Owen Thomas | 20,109 | 52.4 | 1 |
| 1951 general election | Westbury | Reginald Travess | 17,623 | 39.2 | 2 |
| 1954 by-election | Haltemprice | Charles Bridges | 9,974 | 38.2 | 2 |
| 1955 general election | Acton | Joseph Sparks | 20,645 | 50.6 | 1 |
| 1955 general election | Birmingham Perry Barr | Charles Howell | 18,732 | 51.0 | 1 |
| 1955 general election | Eccles | William Proctor | 25,351 | 52.4 | 1 |
| 1955 general election | Newcastle upon Tyne West | Ernest Popplewell | 25,401 | 55.7 | 1 |
| 1955 general election | Nottingham North | James Harrison | 26,552 | 55.4 | 1 |
| 1955 general election | Sheffield Attercliffe | John Hynd | 33,071 | 71.0 | 1 |
| 1955 general election | South East Derbyshire | Arthur Champion | 25,620 | 51.6 | 1 |
| 1955 general election | South Northamptonshire | Ronald Lewis | 17,339 | 44.7 | 2 |
| 1955 general election | The Hartlepools | D. T. Jones | 25,145 | 51.6 | 1 |
| 1955 general election | The Wrekin | Ivor Owen Thomas | 18,541 | 49.4 | 2 |
| 1955 general election | Westbury | Reginald Travess | 16,295 | 37.8 | 2 |
| 1958 by-election | St Helens | Leslie Spriggs | 26,405 | 64.7 | 1 |
| 1959 general election | Acton | Joseph Sparks | 18,438 | 48.8 | 2 |
| 1959 general election | Birmingham Perry Barr | Charles Howell | 16,811 | 42.6 | 1 |
| 1959 general election | Darlington | Ronald Lewis | 19,901 | 39.7 | 2 |
| 1959 general election | Eccles | William Proctor | 25,566 | 52.0 | 1 |
| 1959 general election | Newcastle upon Tyne West | Ernest Popplewell | 28,956 | 54.8 | 1 |
| 1959 general election | St Helens | Leslie Spriggs | 35,961 | 62.1 | 1 |
| 1959 general election | Sheffield Attercliffe | John Hynd | 33,676 | 68.8 | 1 |
| 1959 general election | South East Derbyshire | Arthur Champion | 25,362 | 45.5 | 2 |
| 1959 general election | The Hartlepools | D. T. Jones | 25,281 | 49.8 | 2 |
| 1964 general election | Birmingham Perry Barr | Charles Howell | 18,156 | 49.5 | 2 |
| 1964 general election | Carlisle | Ronald Lewis | 19,169 | 45.6 | 1 |
| 1964 general election | Glasgow Springburn | Richard Buchanan | 16,828 | 65.3 | 1 |
| 1964 general election | Newcastle upon Tyne West | Ernest Popplewell | 29,603 | 58.3 | 1 |
| 1964 general election | St Helens | Leslie Spriggs | 34,137 | 67.0 | 1 |
| 1964 general election | Sheffield Attercliffe | John Hynd | 30,318 | 66.8 | 1 |
| 1964 general election | Sunderland South | Gordon Bagier | 25,900 | 51.6 | 1 |
| 1966 general election | Carlton | Amos Lloyd Ramsden | 24,589 | 39.2 | 2 |
| 1966 general election | Carlisle | Ronald Lewis | 22,565 | 56.1 | 1 |
| 1966 general election | Glasgow Central | Thomas McMillan | 11,673 | 74.8 | 1 |
| 1966 general election | Glasgow Springburn | Richard Buchanan | 15,998 | 67.8 | 1 |
| 1966 general election | Nottingham South | George Perry | 24,580 | 50.3 | 1 |
| 1966 general election | St Helens | Leslie Spriggs | 33,325 | 70.8 | 1 |
| 1966 general election | Sheffield Attercliffe | John Hynd | 32,336 | 77.3 | 1 |
| 1966 general election | Sunderland South | Gordon Bagier | 27,567 | 57.5 | 1 |
| 1970 general election | Carlisle | Ronald Lewis | 21,866 | 53.2 | 1 |
| 1970 general election | Glasgow Central | Thomas McMillan | 7,936 | 66.0 | 1 |
| 1970 general election | Glasgow Springburn | Richard Buchanan | 14,968 | 64.3 | 1 |
| 1970 general election | Nottingham South | George Perry | 23,031 | 46.3 | 2 |
| 1970 general election | St Helens | Leslie Spriggs | 31,587 | 65.7 | 1 |
| 1970 general election | Sunderland South | Gordon Bagier | 26,840 | 56.4 | 1 |
| Feb 1974 general election | Carlisle | Ronald Lewis | 23,119 | 55.2 | 1 |
| Feb 1974 general election | Exeter | Graham Powell | 17,686 | 31.2 | 2 |
| Feb 1974 general election | Glasgow Central | Thomas McMillan | 9,400 | 58.7 | 1 |
| Feb 1974 general election | Glasgow Springburn | Richard Buchanan | 18,067 | 53.7 | 1 |
| Feb 1974 general election | St Helens | Leslie Spriggs | 32,621 | 59.0 | 1 |
| Feb 1974 general election | Sunderland South | Gordon Bagier | 28,296 | 49.6 | 1 |
| Feb 1974 general election | West Bromwich East | Peter Snape | 21,895 | 52.8 | 1 |
| Oct 1974 general election | Carlisle | Ronald Lewis | 21,079 | 51.2 | 1 |
| Oct 1974 general election | Glasgow Central | Thomas McMillan | 9,231 | 63.6 | 1 |
| Oct 1974 general election | Glasgow Springburn | Richard Buchanan | 17,444 | 54.6 | 1 |
| Oct 1974 general election | St Helens | Leslie Spriggs | 32,620 | 64.1 | 1 |
| Oct 1974 general election | Sunderland South | Gordon Bagier | 28,623 | 55.0 | 1 |
| Oct 1974 general election | West Bromwich East | Peter Snape | 19,942 | 50.5 | 1 |
| 1976 by-election | Newcastle upon Tyne Central | Harry Cowans | 4,692 | 47.6 | 1 |
| 1979 general election | Carlisle | Ronald Lewis | 21,343 | 49.7 | 1 |
| 1979 general election | Derby North | Phillip Whitehead | 28,797 | 44.9 | 1 |
| 1979 general election | Edinburgh Central | Robin Cook | 12,191 | 47.9 | 1 |
| 1979 general election | Glasgow Central | Thomas McMillan | 8,542 | 72.5 | 1 |
| 1979 general election | Holborn and St Pancras South | Frank Dobson | 12,026 | 49.3 | 1 |
| 1979 general election | Huddersfield West | Richard Faulkner | 16,996 | 40.6 | 2 |
| 1979 general election | Islington North | Michael O'Halloran | 12,317 | 52.6 | 1 |
| 1979 general election | Newcastle upon Tyne Central | Harry Cowans | 10,395 | 67.3 | 1 |
| 1979 general election | St Helens | Leslie Spriggs | 32,489 | 59.6 | 1 |
| 1979 general election | Sunderland South | Gordon Bagier | 29,403 | 53.1 | 1 |
| 1979 general election | Swansea East | Donald Anderson | 31,909 | 69.9 | 1 |
| 1979 general election | West Bromwich East | Peter Snape | 19,279 | 47.0 | 1 |
| 1979 general election | West Lothian | Tam Dalyell | 36,713 | 54.9 | 1 |
| 1983 general election | Carlisle | Ronald Lewis | 15,618 | 37.5 | 1 |
| 1983 general election | Crewe and Nantwich | Gwyneth Dunwoody | 22,031 | 41.1 | 1 |
| 1983 general election | Derby North | Phillip Whitehead | 18,797 | 36.8 | 2 |
| 1983 general election | Glasgow Garscadden | Donald Dewar | 19,635 | 56.2 | 1 |
| 1983 general election | Holborn and St Pancras | Frank Dobson | 20,486 | 47.5 | 1 |
| 1983 general election | Linlithgow | Tam Dalyell | 19,694 | 45.1 | 1 |
| 1983 general election | Livingston | Robin Cook | 14,255 | 37.7 | 1 |
| 1983 general election | Sunderland South | Gordon Bagier | 22,869 | 45.7 | 1 |
| 1983 general election | Swansea East | Donald Anderson | 22,297 | 54.4 | 1 |
| 1983 general election | Tyne Bridge | Harry Cowans | 21,127 | 56.5 | 1 |
| 1983 general election | West Bromwich East | Peter Snape | 15,894 | 38.1 | 1 |
| 1983 general election | Wrexham | John Marek | 16,120 | 34.3 | 1 |
| 1987 general election | Crewe and Nantwich | Gwyneth Dunwoody | 25,457 | 44.0 | 1 |
| 1987 general election | Derby North | Phillip Whitehead | 20,236 | 37.2 | 2 |
| 1987 general election | Glasgow Garscadden | Donald Dewar | 18,920 | 64.4 | 1 |
| 1987 general election | Holborn and St Pancras | Frank Dobson | 22,966 | 50.6 | 1 |
| 1987 general election | Linlithgow | Tam Dalyell | 21,869 | 47.4 | 1 |
| 1987 general election | Livingston | Robin Cook | 19,110 | 45.6 | 1 |
| 1987 general election | Swansea East | Donald Anderson | 27,478 | 63.7 | 1 |
| 1987 general election | West Bromwich East | Peter Snape | 18,162 | 42.6 | 1 |
| 1987 general election | Wrexham | John Marek | 22,144 | 43.9 | 1 |

## Leadership
### General Secretaries

    1913: James Edwin Williams
    1916: James Henry Thomas
    1931: Charlie Cramp
    1933: John Marchbank
    1943: John Benstead
    1948: Jim Figgins
    1953: Jim Campbell
    1957: Sidney Greene
    1975: Sidney Weighell
    1983: Jimmy Knapp

### Presidents

    1913: Albert Bellamy
    1918: Charlie Cramp
    1920: William James Abraham
    1922: John Marchbank
    1925: William Dobbie
    1928: J. Gore
    1931: William Dobbie
    1934: Joseph Henderson
    1937: Walter T. Griffiths
    1939: J. H. Potts
    1942: Frederick Burrows
    1945: Eddie Binks
    1948: William Tindall Potter
    1951: Harry Franklin
    1954: Jim Stafford
    1957: Tom Hollywood
    1958: Charles W. Evans
    1961: Bill Rathbone
    1964: Frank Donlon
    1967: Frank Lane
    1970: George Chambers
    1972: Harold McRitchie
    1975: Dave Bowman
    1978: Alun Rees
    1982: Tom Ham
    1984: George Wakenshaw
    1987: Alan Foster
    1990: John Cogger