Life in a Railway Factory

Book excerpt: In this book, Alfred Williams wrote a vivid and honest account of life in the Great Western Railway Works in Swindon in the early 1900s. Williams, who worked at the factory for over two decades, describes every aspect of the enterprise from the workers' point of view, and spares no criticism for the bosses, foremen, and capitalism itself. Despite this, the book is not a theoretical critique of economics, but rather an expression of Williams' personal experiences and observations. He covers a wide range of topics, including labor unrest, the composition of the workforce, the physical effects of working in the factory, and the psychology of workers. This is a fascinating and unvarnished look at life in a railway factory, and an important historical document.