Fettlers

Fettlers were historically a class of itinerant workers, primarily in Great Britain, who specialized in maintenance and repair work, particularly on railways and canals. Their name derives from the German word "fetteln," meaning to patch or mend. These workers would travel from place to place, carrying out the necessary upkeep to keep infrastructure functioning.

Their work was often physically demanding and involved tasks such as repairing tracks, clearing ditches, mending embankments, and performing general maintenance on bridges and tunnels. Fettlers were essential for the efficient operation of the burgeoning railway and canal networks during the 19th and early 20th centuries. They were a common sight in rural and industrial areas, their presence often temporary as they moved on to the next maintenance task.

The role of the fettler gradually diminished with the mechanization of railway and canal maintenance and the establishment of more permanent, employed workforces. However, the term "fettler" occasionally reappears in a metaphorical sense to describe someone who makes minor adjustments or repairs to a system or object.