Guards now & then

[cjp]

I have this memory of guard with a satchel over their shoulder with a couple of rolled up flags (red and green) poking out the top walking down the platform. Leaving aside that in these these days of Driver Only Operation guards are scarce around the capital I dont recall seeing such in a while - new bags or no flags?

My proper question is what in those days (say twenty or thirty years ago) did a guard have to carry on and off a train (sandwiches and drinks excepted) and what do they have issued now?

I know on some routes guards have ticket issuing machines but many of those on say SWT travel light - do not sell ticket - and because they have no window to lean out they cannot even wave a flag or a lamp for dispatching.
Do all guards have an issued pager as I see Flamingo's posts referring to or is that a unique TOC thing? Do guards have issued mobile phones?
I guess all have a square head key or similar but what else?
First aId kits?
Needle and thread?

There may be no single answer for say local or trunk services but I guess there has to be a common theme relating to safety and service?

 

[38Cto15E]

I was a freight guard mostly, too long ago to remember everything, but 2 flags,a tin of detonators, Working timetables,mashcan, a Bardic lamp attached to the satchel (bag) and wait for it, a Fairy liquid bottle full of paraffin.
This was to top up the 3 tail lamps on the brakevan if needed and also you could squirt the paraffin on the ashes of the stove to help relight the fire and get the brakevan warm again.

 

[BestWestern]

In response your current kit issue query, yes most/all Guards will have a mobile phone and/or a pager. Blackberry smartphones are starting to replace pagers at many firms as they are cheaper to use and can fulfill more uses. Aside from that, two flags (red and green) and a lamp (either an old school 'Bardic' or a lighter LED 'Halo') are still mandatory. Though most modern stock has sealed windows throughout each coach, it is still possible to dispatch using these by showing them through an opening cab window. Also a hi-viz vest, any required carriage keys, certain up to date publications, various forms, safety footwear, hazard tape, a whistle and your 'authorities' - assorted I.D cards stating that you are safe to carry out your job - must all be carried. Thankfully we now have the delights of the Avantix ticket machine which does at least mean we no longer have to carry around enormous fares manuals (about the size of a phone book!) like the poor old sods did back in the dark ages

 

[313103]

I have recently reintroduced my British Rail Guards Bags as i feel the bags currently issued are not fit for purpose. If you see one on a London Overground train you know it is me.

They were originally issued to all Guards no matter which part of the Guards area you worked in. Nowadays rack sacks ruck sacks are issued. These bags if looked after will last at least 20 years unlike my former company bags in which i have had 6 in five years.

Since i have been using mine quite a lot of Conductors have asked me if i can get them one!

 

[- Cal -]

I'd be interested to know what other guards keep additionally in their traps, personally I keep avantix alcohol printer cleaner strips, phone charger, kindle, flask, spare pens, spare keys (think I've got about 5 T-keys), daily newspaper and other bits and bobs. I've never used the Northern roller briefcase, I've got a leather BR guards bag but don't use that either. I personally use a swissgear backpack, defo one of the best bags on the market.

 

[ex-railwayman]

Blimey, my old mates used to have so much junk in their guards bags, it surprised me that they could carry 'em. Obviously, it depended on what turn of duty they were on, if it was passenger trains, then the ''phone book'' plus the bus conductor type ticket machines with the different blank coloured rolls of tickets for different classes of travel, all stuffed into the nooks and crannies, if it was freight, some of them had the old Prep coats for preparing their trains, working timetables for the area, logbooks, rulebook, Union notices, freight operating manuals for brake vans and fitted/unfitted trains, hi viz waistcoats, a big jar of Swarfega when faffing around with couplings and brake pipes, etc, a scarf for winter, gloves (rubber and wool), huge overcoats and sometimes wellington boots for the snow, in the summer they used to discard their guards caps, coats and jackets, it all had to be squeezed into their bags along with the batteries for lamps, paraffin in small bottles for the older lamps, the lamps themselves, snap boxes, mash tins, spare teabags, sugar cubes and a babies milk bottle with the teat on, it was an absolute artform getting everything in, unsure if they have to carry the same nowadays, but, mucho respect to all guards, they certainly had a lot to do and carry.......

Cheerz. ex-railwayman.

 

[jopsuk]

I know on some routes guards have ticket issuing machines but many of those on say SWT travel light - do not sell ticket

These are SWT's "non-commercial guards", found only on the inner suburban routes where many many stations are manned and barriered, stops are frequent and trains often too busy for a ticket selling guard to make any headway through- especially on units where the doors can only be controlled at the cabs. They're there for passenger and train safety.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

South Wales freight guards circa 1979 could have lived out of the contents of their bags for a couple of days.

Small shovel for stoking the stove - and newspapers for various personal and other uses I seem to recall. (not just filling in the cracks around the doors)

 

[Monty]

I know on some routes guards have ticket issuing machines but many of those on say SWT travel light - do not sell ticket - and because they have no window to lean out they cannot even wave a flag or a lamp for dispatching.

We still have to carry flags (as you said one green and one red) and a bardic lamp while working a train in addition to other equipment. You will find that most guards do not carry any flag poles with them however (which is not required), though I still do personally. You wouldn't use a flag to dispatch a train unless your bell buzzer had failed either, the same goes for using a lamp at night. You would do that from an open window in the middle or rear cab of the train.

 

[Flamingo]

On top of everything BestWestern said, in no particular order I carry my raincoat (issue), spare torch, spare batteries for all my torches, needle & thread, spare buttons for jacket & shirt, flask/cup (in cold weather I keep it filled), knife/fork/spoon, plastic bowl, tea&coffee making, cuppa soup, paracetamol, sticking plasters, cable ties, gloves (leather & protective), pens, magic marker, USB charger with cable for blackberry, headphones (my phone turns into radio, it came in useful during 7/7 bombings and a fortnight later to keep up with news on-train), route maps, two bottles of water (one for me, one for somebody else), insulating tape, screwdriver & bits, scissors, pliers, mints, mars bar (for emergency use!), book to read when sitting, spit kit (for gathering evidence if anyone spits at/on us), spare T-key, train keys & whistle. Oh, and my lunch will be in there as well.

I think that's all. My bag weighs approx 14kg, by the way (most of which is my lunch!)

 

[pendolino]

On top of everything BestWestern said, in no particular order I carry my raincoat (issue), spare torch, spare batteries for all my torches, needle & thread, spare buttons for jacket & shirt, flask/cup (in cold weather I keep it filled), knife/fork/spoon, plastic bowl, tea&coffee making, cuppa soup, paracetamol, sticking plasters, cable ties, gloves (leather & protective), pens, magic marker, USB charger with cable for blackberry, headphones (my phone turns into radio, it came in useful during 7/7 bombings and a fortnight later to keep up with news on-train), route maps, two bottles of water (one for me, one for somebody else), insulating tape, screwdriver & bits, scissors, pliers, mints, mars bar (for emergency use!), book to read when sitting, spit kit (for gathering evidence if anyone spits at/on us), spare T-key, train keys & whistle. Oh, and my lunch will be in there as well.

I think that's all. My bag weighs approx 14kg, by the way (most of which is my lunch!)

When the first manned mission to Mars blasts off on its several-million-km journey to the Red Planet there will less stuff on board than you carry in your bag.

 

[Flamingo]

When the first manned mission to Mars blasts off on its several-million-km journey to the Red Planet there will less stuff on board than you carry in your bag.

Nothing in it I haven't used.

 

[pendolino]

Nothing in it I haven't used.

How long has the emergency Mars bar been in there? And would you deploy it before dets and TCOCs?

 

[Flamingo]

How long has the emergency Mars bar been in there? And would you deploy it before dets and TCOCs?

I've had a diabetic having a hypo when I was on a unit before now...

 

[ANorthernGuard]

Always..and I mean ALWAYS carry a Bog roll (just ask any member of Traincrew) lol

 

[AlexS]

It's amazing how much stuff people carry about!

As a preserved railway guard, I use a BR leather satchel (alas coming to the end of it's life). Kit tends to be red/green flags, operating notices/PONs, Appendix type thing, working timetable, logsheet, bardic lamp, can of detonators (signed in/out by the guard each day rather than left on the stock for security reasons), whistle, BR1/carriage key, mug, a leatherman multi-tool swiss army knife type thing, a roll of tape, a hi-vis vest, a pen (usually 2), gloves, prep coat, a novel and probably more I've forgotten. Leatherman in particular is most useful as we retain responsibility for the full technical wellbeing of our train unlike most national network guards/trainmen so good for things like isolating brake cylinders/changing pipes in an emergency etc.

Even as a train dispatcher on the national network my kit includes red/green flags, a bardic lamp or Halo lamp depending on how I'm feeling on a given day, whistle, carriage key, SCWID card and so forth, as well as a CDL key that's held on the station for general use. This largely coming about due to the person in charge of the platform's responsibility for the disposal and dispatch of DOO empties with the removal of guards from these trains. Also useful for relaying the guard's signals to the driver with units with busted buzzers (essential on units without opening windows) and some charter services that are still dispatched with flags as I sign the dispatch of Mk1/2/3 coaching stock.

 

[ainsworth74]

Always..and I mean ALWAYS carry a Bog roll (just ask any member of Traincrew) lol

Dare I ask why...

 

[Flamingo]

Always..and I mean ALWAYS carry a Bog roll (just ask any member of Traincrew) lol

I carry a packet of tissues - man-size
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Leatherman in particular is most useful as we retain responsibility for the full technical wellbeing of our train unlike most national network guards/trainmen so good for things like isolating brake cylinders/changing pipes in an emergency etc.

I keep one and a swiss army knife - useful for the corkscrew and bottle opener when going through the set, and the Leathermans is useful to open screw-top bottles of wine!

 

[6Gman]

Dare I ask why...

In case one hasn't finished reading the paper ...

 

[ChiefPlanner]

I've had a diabetic having a hypo when I was on a unit before now...

Very good point - a Paddington guard I recall swiftly dealt with a low blood sugar diabetic (and stressed) passenger one morning by deploying his (packed) scone and jam. Lady made a great recovery - was well impressed with his actions.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Always..and I mean ALWAYS carry a Bog roll (just ask any member of Traincrew) lol

One of the reasons why guards carried old newspapers (previous post refers) - ermmm ...."platelayers tips" was the term for a jettisoned parcel in dire emergency off a freight train !.

 

[Matt Taylor]

I always carry hand sanitizer and some wipes as they are invaluable if you have just had to reset an egress on a Desiro or if you've had to open up any panels (which are usually filthy on the inside).

 

[Solent&Wessex]

I use a Drivers style back with end pocket and side pouch, which contains (in nor particular order): Red / Green Flag, company issued Toclite, my own smaller Ugsby red/green/white LED torch (used for dispatching as it is quicker and easier than the big toclite), Roll of gaffer tape, leatherman multi tool, bundle of alan leys, spare pens, carriage letter window labels, toilet out of use labels, various report forms, HVV, Bottle of water, set of plastic cutlery, hand wipes, hand sanitiser, tissues, ibuprofen, plasters, printed extracts from The Manual (mainly rover and PTE stuff), a variety of leaflets for passengers and my own info if required, spit kit, 2 x bin liners/rubbish bags, ticket wallets, mobile phone charger, UPFN pad, ticket clippers, protective latex gloves, Quail Maps, WON, um... I think that is it.

 

[cjp]

On top of everything BestWestern said, in no . Oh, and my lunch will be in there as well.

I think that's all. My bag weighs approx 14kg, by the way (most of which is my lunch!)

Thank you all ever so much for your replies.

Flamingo wins the prize for causing the unexpected chuckle but it was all very interesting.

So much is carried including the flags and in one instance even the needle and thread I joked about - Flamingo again.
Why the name Flamingo??

Anyway a follow up for someone if they would -
I have looked up Bardic lamps but but what is a
Prep coats?
SCWID card?
and a CDL key ?

I do not want to know what a spit kit is.

 

[transportphoto]

Anyway a follow up for someone if they would -
I have looked up Bardic lamps but but what is a
Prep coats?
SCWID card?
and a CDL key ?

SCWID Card: Safety Critical Work Identity Card - photographic identity card issued to certify that you have been deemed fit by medical, by tests, (etc) to do safety critical work.

CDL Key - Central Door Locking key, activates the central door locking systems on the train - remote door controls, releases the doors, closes them, gives Bell/Buzzer for communications with the driver.

TP

 

[pendolino]

Anyway a follow up for someone if they would -
I have looked up Bardic lamps but but what is a
Prep coats?
SCWID card?
and a CDL key ?

I do not want to know what a spit kit is.

SCWID = Safety Critical Work Identification

Oh, beaten to it.

Anyone else carry an Abloy key?

 

[Flamingo]

[
Why the name Flamingo??

Because I'm pink and I stand on one leg a lot

There is an old army saying, "you can live on what's in your pack, but you should be able to survive on what's in your pockets".

When walking through the train, on my person I will have (if doing revenue) Avantex & Dione, float, Ziffer (stamper), counter.
If nighttime I will have a Halo lamp.
And will always have a whistle, late notice, out of use stickers for doors and toilets (at least 4 of each), UPNF pad, green flag, maps, information notebook book containing details of stations and routes for immediate reference, tube map. large plastic wallet containing various pieces of info / memo's to refer to, torch, spare mini maglite torch, Leatherman, Swiss army knife, T-key, key-ring (CDL, BR1, Buffet, locker, mini t-key & mini maglite) two pens, two sharpie markers, lighter, emergency phone numbers, small field dressing, sticking plasters and protective gloves.

Oh yes, I forgot, Kendle Mint Cake (Joke ).

 

[Hearadh]

South Wales freight guards circa 1979 could have lived out of the contents of their bags for a couple of days.

Small shovel for stoking the stove - and newspapers for various personal and other uses I seem to recall. (not just filling in the cracks around the doors)

I still have my shovel stamped BR (SC) - These were a small size shovel in order to empty the ashes from under the stove.

 

[tsr]

There is an old army saying, "you can live on what's in your pack, but you should be able to survive on what's in your pockets".

Yes. Quite. You should see what I have in my pockets when I go up a mountain! I'd say three or four people could survive for about a week on that!

Let alone any of the other activities I carry out, whether or not near a railway, which I deem to be "potentially more hazardous than everyday life"... or where I actually have to carry safety equipment...

 

[ChiefPlanner]

I still have my shovel stamped BR (SC) - These were a small size shovel in order to empty the ashes from under the stove.

I recall as a Trainee riding around on class 9 workings from Radyr , (in mid Winter) - and "foraging" for brake van coal was an activity carried out with much acclaim. (i.e picking up spillage from the trackside , good locations being Abercwmboi and Nantgarw , as there was almost as much fuel on the ground as in the wagons !) - a good brakevan stove could certainly throw out some heat.

Could not believe though , how primitive condtions were for working freight guards but they seemed to relish the job.

 

[Flamingo]

I recall as a Trainee riding around on class 9 workings from Radyr , (in mid Winter) - and "foraging" for brake van coal was an activity carried out with much acclaim. (i.e picking up spillage from the trackside , good locations being Abercwmboi and Nantgarw , as there was almost as much fuel on the ground as in the wagons !) - a good brakevan stove could certainly throw out some heat.

Could not believe though , how primitive condtions were for working freight guards but they seemed to relish the job.

I remember one of the "old & bold" telling me about the brakevan stove, and it "glowing red up the flue to the roof", when I said that didn't sound very safe he replied (with some indignation) "It was perfectly safe, sure everything was covered in asbestos"!