One American Too Many: Boss Badger and the Brisbane Trams

One hundred years ago, striking tramway workers brought the sleepy colonial city of Brisbane to the edge of anarchy in an unprecedented general strike. At the centre of this turbulent, but little known event was a small union badge and the man who ran the Brisbane trams.

This new book from The Workshops Rail Museum tells the story of Joseph Stillman Badger, the American ‘Boss’ who revolutionised Brisbane’s transport system, and his uncompromising stand against Australia’s fledgling unions.

Written by prominent railway historian David Burke, One American Too Many details the events that led to the ‘Black Friday’ clash between 15,000 strikers and 2000 mounted and foot police on 2 February 1912.

One American Too Many is the latest publication from The Workshops Rail Museum, part of the Queensland Museum network, and twice named Australia’s best cultural heritage attraction at the Australian Tourism Awards.

Author: David Burke

ISBN: 9780987268105