Walking GUARDS.

[48111]

Well do you know, at Nuneaton we used to have a trip job, you booked on at lunchtime (cant remember the exact time)and booked off at around 18.30 in the evening. But during that time the guard hooked on and off a total of 62 times, both with the pole and manually.
It was a job where we ended up at along a branch line at a frieghtliner depot and there was only the driver and guard, no second man, but the driver always helped the guard out by jumping down and hooking up one end save the guard having to walk the length of the train whilst shunting frieghtliner vehicles. The branch line was notorious for problems with local yobs causing trouble, on most days as soon as the train or light engine entered the branch line, the guard would get off and actually WALK in the fourfoot in front of the engine clearing the line of all manner of debris. Anyway on completion of getting the frieghtliner train ready in the evening and leaving the freigtliner yard to go back along the branch to the main line, the guard used to ride on the end vehicle because the local idiots got wind of dropping the red tap (air braked) and stopping the train, then when the guard walkedback to lift the handle he would get all sorts thrown at him from the top of the bank.
It was a terrible job all round and now that branch line has been closed and is now a duel carriagway road. I know we should never rejoice in the closure of any branch line, but this was an exception, when that branch closed we all had a pint on the news.
We always had a class 25 diesel on that job and those poor engines suffered a lot of damage form "throwers" on that branch including a couple of windowscreens.
48111

[locojoe]

Good post 48111 Sounds like a horrible job, I bet nobody wanted to change turns when you were on that job.

According to what one reads things have not changed much as louts are still chucking things at trains nowadays.

[John H-T]

A very sad story 48111.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

[48111]

Morning John, yes mate it was a godsend when that branch line closed. Even the police had a job coping with all the incidents along there. Luckily no one ever got injured but it was a miracle that it did not happen.

48111

[HM181]

Many times I have sanded the rail going up Oakenshaw Bank, onto the Midland Railway at Crofton.
This was done by using your mashing can full of sand and spreading it infront of the engine.
If you had a 31, and 30 on for Grimy all you did was grind the rail.
The Midland at this time was 4 track from Goose Hill Jct to Wath Road Jct.(Mexboro.)
Now single track from oaky bank to Cudworth with 3 sand tains per week on T/W/Th with 28 trucks to Monk Bretton Glass works.
This line suffers from quad bikes, crossbow shooters, 12 bore shooters and stone slingers all the way to Cudworth, where the stop blocks are.
There is a rr road, which is 5/8 miles long, speed limit 45mph.
The train is run round, and propelled up a steep bank into a siding.
The train is then split in half and 14 waggons are shunted over the discharge hopper.
The other 14 are dealt with when the first lot are empty.
The 14 full waggons have 5 brakes pinned down, and scotches placed under the leading 3 wheels, cos it on a steep incline.
This job was worked with a Cl 66 from Worksop Drivers and HM groundstaff.

[48111]

Originally Posted by HM181

Many times I have sanded the rail going up Oakenshaw Bank, onto the Midland Railway at Crofton.
This was done by using your mashing can full of sand and spreading it infront of the engine.
If you had a 31, and 30 on for Grimy all you did was grind the rail.
The Midland at this time was 4 track from Goose Hill Jct to Wath Road Jct.(Mexboro.)
Now single track from oaky bank to Cudworth with 3 sand tains per week on T/W/Th with 28 trucks to Monk Bretton Glass works.
This line suffers from quad bikes, crossbow shooters, 12 bore shooters and stone slingers all the way to Cudworth, where the stop blocks are.
There is a rr road, which is 5/8 miles long, speed limit 45mph.
The train is run round, and propelled up a steep bank into a siding.
The train is then split in half and 14 waggons are shunted over the discharge hopper.
The other 14 are dealt with when the first lot are empty.
The 14 full waggons have 5 brakes pinned down, and scotches placed under the leading 3 wheels, cos it on a steep incline.
This job was worked with a Cl 66 from Worksop Drivers and HM groundstaff.

Interesting post mate, good work though on goods trains, real railway work.
48111