Jobs that don't exist anymore

Train Station Ticket Checker.

I remember 15 years ago in Sydney how the Train Stations had a ticket attendant to check every person's ticket and fine them if they didn't have one.

Now it happens on an ad hoc basis and it's done by police or security guards because it's too dangerous to stop people for fare evasion- I saw some kids walk right over the ticket machines at Bankstown station and the station worker wouldn't say anything in case the kids used their phones to bring 10 carloads of guys to teach him a lesson. Then again even the cops are scared to pull over cars in that area for the same reason.

There are ticket collectors on the trains still here in Wellington. On a Friday and Saturday night “Barriers are in Operation” which just means they close all gates to the platforms except one and you have to buy your ticket before you go through. But generally, you can just get on a train and pay for your ticket on board. No ticket machines here :(

Data processors/typists are still very common in certain industries/organisations.

The NZ Police employs typists. The police (particularly the CIB) still do a lot of dictation and they allocate their tapes to a typist.

Lawyers do lots of dictation as well so therefore, typists tend to be in the bigger law firms. I do know in smaller ones however it is generally the lucky secretary (or whoever) who gets the tapes!

Voice recognition dictation softwarey stuff may work in theory, but certainly don’t work with our good ol new zulund iccents !!!

Telegram delivery person

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>People who shovelled coal were called - stokers. <hr></blockquote>
Stokers in steam ships, but firemen in steam railway locomotives.

One of the duties of a fireman was to watch for signals and other 'safeworking' stuff as a backup for the driver, which is why diesel and electric locos had firemen. And to make the tea.

What about the Bonn (sp) Brush man??

In the same vein, PMG radio & television licence inspectors (yes - you used to have to pay a fee to use a radio or TV, purportedly to pay the running costs of the ABC).

Ryb and Flygirl - I use to get to play on one of those switchboards now and then - really loved it far more fun than the 'modern' ones of today, really great fun letting the plugs fling back down especially if it had been plugged into a top row. Oh those were the days.

Do the Railways still employ fettlers?? An old boyfriend many years ago was one.

Cinema usher.