Drivers and Shunting

[dk1]

I find the assumptions being made about drivers that are following mandatory rules and local instructions amusing, "don't want to get out shoes dirty" , "need some pea gravel to walk on" , "refusing to do the shunt" "wont walk on ballast"
Rest assured we will walk on ballast when necessary and required and we don't give toss about out shoes, what we won't do is disregard the rule book and local operating instructions, most of which are in place because lessons are learned after some poor soul was injured or died.

So very true but remember there are plenty of experts on here mate who know better.

 

[75A]

So very true but remember there are plenty of experts on here mate who know better.

Ain't that the truth?

 

[6Gman]

I don't doubt the benefits of it - I'm more interested in when it started to happen really.

There's always been some consideration of it as there's been locations over time where for example propelling moves have been undertaken rather than change ends, but I'm just interested as to when someone started to think "hmm, traincrew climbing on to the ballast isn't a good thing, let's start providing alternatives" - especially considering pre GSMR it was basically a routine task. The walkway at places like Longbridge reversing siding is probably a good example.

In my time with Central Trains (so early/mid 1990s) Shrewsbury guards objected to climbing down onto the ballast in the carriage sidings while carrying cash. Instead we held units in the station for 20 minutes (5" walk, 10" to pay in, 5" walk back) before moving them to the CS (DOO on ECS not an option at the time). Played havoc with the drivers' turns sadly.

The guards still had to climb down once stabled but at least they didn't drop all their change on the tracks!

 

[LowLevel]

In my time with Central Trains (so early/mid 1990s) Shrewsbury guards objected to climbing down onto the ballast in the carriage sidings while carrying cash. Instead we held units in the station for 20 minutes (5" walk, 10" to pay in, 5" walk back) before moving them to the CS (DOO on ECS not an option at the time). Played havoc with the drivers' turns sadly.

The guards still had to climb down once stabled but at least they didn't drop all their change on the tracks!

Those old SPORTIS briefcases always did look very chunky

Years ago we used to have a job where it was advantageous to have the guard go down to a stabling point with the unit and driver to avoid a complicated manoeuvre with a taxi which picked up both crew members, the guard at the station and the driver at the shed. If the traffic was bad in town, or the driver got stuck in a queue of trains to get on shed, it could cause problems with the taxi so it was much easier just to sort it out for the taxi to go straight to the depot and get everyone from there.

You then threw your ticket machine and bag over a gate and clambered over to save the security bod from having to unlock it for you.

Amazing how the approach can change when it's to your advantage

 

[6Gman]

Those old SPORTIS briefcases always did look very chunky

Years ago we used to have a job where it was advantageous to have the guard go down to a stabling point with the unit and driver to avoid a complicated manoeuvre with a taxi which picked up both crew members, the guard at the station and the driver at the shed. If the traffic was bad in town, or the driver got stuck in a queue of trains to get on shed, it could cause problems with the taxi so it was much easier just to sort it out for the taxi to go straight to the depot and get everyone from there.

You then threw your ticket machine and bag over a gate and clambered over to save the security bod from having to unlock it for you.

Amazing how the approach can change when it's to your advantage

Theory and practice!

Theory and practice!

To get round the Shrewsbury issue we had to relieve the incoming driver with a driver whose turn had to be extended (so an 8h 58m and a 7h 12m became an 8h 50m and an 8h 22m, with a lot of sitting around for the latter). In reality I suspect the incoming driver stayed on the unit and the supposedly relieving driver booked the full shift but went home. Why wouldn't you?

Theory and practice.