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The work is done at night during
Engineering Hours, when the trains have finished running, and the electricity is switched off. Cleaning the tunnels is a heavy and dirty job, which has traditionally been a role carried out by teams of women. In 1947, a newsreel made by
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is a person employed to clean the tracks in the tunnels. The passage of the trains through the tunnels draws in dust and rubbish, and removing this debris is essential to maintain the safety of the
Underground, as it would otherwise create a fire hazard.
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2013 1909396168 "For those with their minds not in the gutter, a fluffer is someone whose job it is to clean the
Underground's tracks while everyone else is safely tucked up in bed."
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These days, the fluffers have electric torches and protective clothing, and collect the dust in plastic bags. Fluffer teams still tend to be mainly made up of women.
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In 1989, documentary filmmaker Molly Dineen chronicled the work of a team of fluffers at Angel station in
Islington for a TV documentary called
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London
Underground's Strangest Tales: Extraordinary but true stories
253:"A team of 'fluffers', Whitechapel Station, London, November 1994"
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339:This London railway station–related article is a
286:This England rail transport related article is a
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231:"Fluffer, Whitechapel Station, London, 1996"
216:"A ★★★★ review of Heart of the Angel (1989)"
190:""Mind The Gap" the story of Evelyn Roberts"
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192:. St Andrew's Fulham. 2007. Archived from
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127:"Science & Society Picture Library"
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92:captured the fluffers on film carrying
16:London Underground tunnel track cleaner
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395:Cleaning and maintenance occupations
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343:. You can help Knowledge (XXG) by
290:. You can help Knowledge (XXG) by
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255:. National Railway Museum. 1994
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233:. National Railway Museum
129:. National Railway Museum
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101:The Heart of the Angel
157:. British Pathe. 1947
229:Hogg, Chris (1996).
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62:January 2020
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384:Categories
110:References
53:; try the
40:link to it
43:. Please
81:fluffer
75:On the
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