The LNER Encyclopedia

Terry Miller of Stratford MPD used to tell this story about Eastern Region's Motive Power officer, L. P. Parker "Good morning Miller. I have just passed the engine of the 'Hook Continental'. It carries the number 1005 and the remarakable if undignified name of Bongo. " Please see that this locomotive is not used on this important train in future."

Also another story about Parker spotting water overflowing from a tank and his commentt to fireman about allowing domestic bath to flow which produced response; "Barf, guv, barf? ain't got a bleedin' barf!"

Dick Hardy tells a few stories about Parker in his books. Clearly a memorable man.

Great anecdotes - thanks for sharing! More please!

What one reads of him makes clear that he had a terrific grasp of the operational necessities to make the motive power department run efficiently, and demanded non-stop effort from his management team in the attainment of a consistently high performance standard. The LNER appear to have used his section as a training and development proving ground for aspiring young men to show their mettle: basically if you measured up to LPP's requirements it was a tick in the box for career advancement. Generally the subjects of these attentions came to look back in gratitude on 'the experience'.

Something of his character that is consistently reported is his doggedness in ensuring the root cause of problems were discovered by continuous probing, why?, why? why?; and then dealt with to the full extent that the resources available permitted. Anecdotally, something he was reputed to have said was that if he could have retained by promotion all the young men who had proved satisfactory in service, he would have been running the best railway section anywhere in the world.

I can't vouche for the authenticity of thisd but it was said in the past the his wife was of the same mind and thought nothing of tidying a train toilet if it had been left with say a dirty sink

jwealleans wrote:Dick Hardy tells a few stories about Parker in his books. Clearly a memorable man.

This made me laugh from A Shedmaster's Life at Stewarts Lane
by Richard Hardy
There was a miserable driver who was difficult for any fireman to work with. Every 12 weeks promotion were made and one rough, uncouth man, was promoted and put with this driver as his fireman. Dick thought they would be at each others throat, but they got on well - they never spoke a word to each other for two years!