Elizabeth Anderson Crighton (1895–1985) was the first female railway guard with the Caledonian Railway Co.
When the First World War broke out women were encouraged to take jobs which were previously closed to them, replacing men who enlisted in the army. Elizabeth Crighton applied for the post of railway guard and started work in 1915, becoming the first and the youngest woman employed by the Caledonian in that capacity.
Crighton worked on the Caledonian's Cathcart Circle line. It was so unusual to have a female guard that many of the male passengers became very fond of her. She was often presented with roses or other flowers which passengers would produce from their hats as she went past. She finally gave up her job at the end of the war, believing it was unfair that a single woman should be doing a man’s job while so many were unemployed.
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Museum Service
Keywords:
Caledonian Railway Co, Cathcart Circle, First World War, railway conductors, railway guards, women
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