[locojoe]

Whilst firing at Kings Cross I worked on both steam and diesel. It was in the early days of diesel traction and the diesels I worked on were Type 4 EEs and Prototype Deltic. Sometimes I would arrive at Topshed expecting a nice easy shift on a diesel only to find we had been allocated a steamer.

After steam a secondman was used on diesels but now all trains are single manned probably because of cost. I think a secondman today would be a good thing as it would allow younger men to learn the ropes more thoroughly over a period of time instead of training people with no railway experience. Any comments.