Blog
A deep-dive into a variety of pension topics to help you understand and learn more about your pension and the Scheme.
7/3/2025
Editorial
<p>The International Women’s Day (IWD) organisation invites us to take part in the ‘<a href="https://www.internationalwomensday.com/Theme" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">Accelerate Action for gender equality</a>’ campaign, which calls to address barriers and biases women face in all walks of life, at a faster pace. You can learn more about IWD and how you can get involved by visiting <a href="https://www.internationalwomensday.com/" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">internationalwomensday.com.</a><br></p><p>March is also <a href="https://www.womenshistorymonth.gov/" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">Women’s History Month</a>, a chance celebrate women of the past and present day, who’s far-reaching, varied and exceptional contributions to the world often go under-recognised. <br></p><p>Here, we look at incredible women who played a huge hand in rail innovation and see how significant events in the 20th century created greater opportunities for women in rail.<br></p><p><strong>The late 19<sup>th</sup> century </strong><br></p><p>Before they could vote, women were involved in inventions that transformed the rail industry. <br></p><p><strong>Eliza Murfey </strong>was one such woman, and was both a physician and an inventor. Murfey is said to have recorded 30 patents for her inventions, though only 23 have been confirmed by historians. <br></p><p>In the 1870s, Murfey invented several devices that made travelling by rail safer, including ‘packings,’ which lubricated railcar bearings, pistons, and axles, to prevent derailments. She then went on to become a prolific mechanical engineer.<br></p><p>1872 saw <strong>E.F. Sawyer</strong> become the first female telegraph operator, hired by the Burlington Railroad in Montgomery, Illinois. This role helped to prevent train collisions, through transmitting important information. Sawyer’s role as a telegraph operator paved the way for future women to enter the field of communications, such as telephone operator <strong>Emma Nutt</strong>, in 1878. <br></p><p>In 1879, inventor <strong>Mary Elizabeth Walton</strong> was given 2 patents for her pollution reduction devices. She created a system that deflected emissions from the smoke stacks on railroad locomotives, and directed emissions through water tanks to trap pollutants, taking them to the sewage system. <br></p><p>Walton also invented a system to reduce the noise pollution of elevated rails, that used sand and cotton in a wooden box around an elevated track. Interestingly, Thomas Edison was trying to invent a similar device, but Walton came up with the method and solution first.<br></p><p><strong>The 20<sup>th</sup> Century and the World Wars</strong><br></p><p>Gender roles were rigid in society before the World Wars. At the start of the 20<sup>th</sup> Century, there were just 4,564 women employed in Britain’s railways, representing less than 1% of the total workforce. If women did work in rail, it was often in roles that were ascribed to their gender. <br></p><p>But when the World Wars happened, in order to release some male workers to the front, railway companies became one of the first major employers to recruit women. British railway companies employed 55,942 women in the First World War, who often received little training, learnt on the job, and were given much lower pay than the male workers. <br></p><p>These women played pivotal roles in sustaining and evolving the rail industry while men were at war, taking on a variety of roles such as ticket collectors, clerics, and physically labouring roles as engine cleaners and station porters. <br></p><p>Although the 20<sup>th</sup> Century saw a significant rise in women working in the rail industry, they were often expected to resign when they got married, or when men returned home from the war.<br></p><p><strong>The present day</strong><br></p><p>Today, women account for around 1 in 5 of the railway work force. Organisations like <a href="https://womeninrail.org/" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">Women in Rail</a> are striving to increase diversity in the rail industry by providing networking and career opportunities to women, as well as encouraging key stakeholders to implement it as part of their strategies.<br></p><p>They’re also coming up with initiatives to make working in rail more appealing to women, recognizing the important functions diversity, inclusion and equality have, when it comes to innovation. <strong></strong><br></p><p><strong>A few closing words from your Trustee Chair, Christine Kernoghan</strong><br></p><p>The Scheme’s Trustee Chair, Christine Kernoghan has over 40 years’ experience working in rail and pensions, including roles in project management, operations, and people management. <br></p><p>Commenting on what has helped her to achieve long-standing success in a male-dominated industry, she says: “When I started, there weren’t many women in the room, but the mentors and coaches helped me a lot. I learned very early on that you're only as good as the team that supports you and the teams I’ve worked with over the years have been fantastic.<br></p><p>"My intention has always been to do a good job and to aspire to high standards. Pensions and the railway are both people industries, so clear communication is absolutely key.”<br></p><p>And while it can sometimes feel like there is only one route to success, Christine adds: “You don't necessarily have to climb straight up the career ladder. You can go sideways as well.” <br></p>
Women in rail - the journey so far: International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month
This International Women’s Day (8 March), we invite you to take a look at pioneering women of the past and present, whose inventions, ideas and hard work have transformed the rail industry into what you see today.
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